Arsenal salvaged a point at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

Paul Merson has predicted Arsenal will narrowly beat Chelsea and Manchester United to fourth spot in the Premier League.

Liverpool and Manchester City are expected to claim the top two positions, while Tottenham remain favourites to take third spot despite a difficult start to the campaign.

Arsenal and United drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on Monday night and Merson thinks the Gunners just have an edge over the Red Devils and Chelsea.

‘There is a long way to go. The teams you are asking to finish in the top six – Leicester and West Ham – it is a big ask for them,’ Merson told Sky Sports.


Chelsea are seventh in the table (Picture: Getty)

‘Certain players have to stay fit for them, so I think it is between Chelsea, United and Arsenal who will finish in the top four.



‘The cream always comes to the top – they (United and Arsenal) are not playing well at the moment, but over 38 games, you are asking Leicester and West Ham to do something special the way the gulf is at the moment.

‘There is not going to be a lot between Chelsea, United and Arsenal, so fourth to sixth could be six points. It is not going to be like it has been over the years where the top four are 10-15 points ahead of everybody else.

Arsenal currently occupy fourth spot (Picture: EPA)

‘Chelsea are a younger team, they have youth on their side. I am not saying it is a shoo-in they will finish in the top four this season, and if they do not, it is not the end of the world for Chelsea.

‘But for the other teams, it could be a bit of a problem. I would probably say Arsenal, but only just.

‘There were two nervous football teams at Old Trafford on Monday night with a lot of pressure on them. They could not handle the pressure very well and it was a very hard game to watch.’

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