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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has had the first dig of the season at title rivals Arsenal by insisting Luis Suarez was too good the Gunners.

Opening with the classically ironic cliche of 'with the greatest respect' Gerrard was referencing Arsene Wengers failed bid of £40m +£1 during the last summer transfer window.

On reflection of differing seasons for the two clubs here's a number of reasons Arsenal fans should ignore Gerrard's comments:

A good way to waste £40m +£1

Regardless of how good at football he is, Suarez can’t do a lot to help your team if he isn’t allowed anywhere near the squad.

Suarez is banned from partaking in any football related activity until October, meaning he’d miss at least the first eight of Arsenal’s new season including crucial games against the likes of Manchester City and Spurs.

It's one or the other

If Arsenal had successfully landed Suarez during the transfer window you can be sure they wouldn’t have splashed the same cash on their creative German Mesut Ozil.

Despite Ozil’s form tailing off slightly towards the end of the season he’s still a great player and it’s easy to forget it’s was his first term in English football.

The Ozil effect

Granted Suarez bagged a lot of goals last season but Ozil offered a far more sophisticated attribute to Arsene Wenger’s starting eleven.

Ozil has the ability to raise the overall level of play across the pitch with his quick movement and intelligent passing. Wilshere, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain and even Flamini to some extent have all benefited from having Ozil around them.

Not to mention he was Arsenal’s most creative midfielder and managed nine assists in the Premier League, more than any other in his side.

Yawn

Despite how brilliant he was at Liverpool last season, even the Anfield faithful would admit they started to get a little bit bored of defending his antics.

Surely the phrase "Yeah he's a nightmare but you'd have him in your side" would get tenuous for anybody?

It's all about winning...

Liverpool trophies won last season with Suarez = 0

Arsenal trophies won last season without Suarez = 1

In the bad books

With Suarez in the Arsenal team we’d see some serious conflict, what would Jack Wilshere do to seek Arsene’s attention if Suarez became the resident bad boy?

(Image: Action Images)

Crocked list

Arsenal’s Premier League title push faltered due to their consistent list of unfortunate injuries to key men.

As good as he was, we’re pretty sure the little bitey Uruguayan would have been powerless to stop injuries to Ramsey, Walcott, Wilshere, the Ox etc etc.

World Cup champs

Instead of having the post World Cup blues of knowing your best player is suspended for four months Arsenal have a decent contingent of world champions heading back to the Emirates.

Podolski, Ozil, Mertesacker will be in nothing but confident mood when the Premier League season kicks off and with another rumoured to be on his way Arsenal fans can be optimistic again.

Cheer up Luis

Number of Arsenal players to cry at Selhurst Park = 0

Number of Liverpool players to cry at Selhurst Park = Luis Suarez

(Image: Jamie McDonald)

Building for a future

Wenger looks to be building for yet another new era under Arsene, but Luis Suarez has played for five clubs in less than 10 years - not exactly the kind of player to build a legacy on.

While Gerrard might think Suarez is too good for Arsenal, the fact remains that Brendan Rodgers and Arsene Wenger both have something in common. They are pragmatic managers who have a philosophy and believe that no single player is bigger than the club.

Suarez was beginning to compromise that philosophy for Rodgers, and he would have done the same for Wenger, even if he did bring goals and short-term thrills.

It would have been the wrong move for Arsenal. The Gunners are looking for marriage material, not for a Tinder date.