Time is running out for Unai Emery at Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to replace Unai Emery with Brendan Rodgers and says the Leicester City manager can ‘transform the club’.

Emery is under immense pressure at the Emirates, with his Arsenal team winning just one of their last five Premier League matches to slip to fifth in the table.

Arsenal are currently six points behind third-placed Leicester, who have enjoyed a sensational start to the campaign under Rodgers, who arrived at the King Power earlier in the year.

Brendan Rodgers could emerge as a target for Arsenal if Emery leaves (Picture: Getty)

Merson believes Emery could be sacked if Arsenal lose to the Foxes next weekend and says Rodgers is the ideal candidate to take over in north London.




The Gunners hero has urged his former club to ‘break the bank’ for Rodgers and hand the former Liverpool manager a ‘five-year contract’.

He told Sky Sports: ‘I read somewhere that Unai Emery was pleased with how Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Wolves panned out from a tactical perspective.

‘If letting Wolves have 24 shots on goal was what he wanted, then yes, it went to plan.

‘But when you consider that was the most shots Arsenal have faced in a Premier League game since moving to the Emirates, I doubt whether that was his intention.

‘That came after Arsenal conceded 31 shots away at Watford, who are rock bottom of the Premier League. That is some doing.

Gunners hero Paul Merson has mocked Emery and hailed Rodgers (Picture: Getty)

‘Emery is struggling and with a trip to Leicester on Saturday, he will do well to keep hold of his job if that goes against him.

‘The gap is already six points to fourth and Arsenal are in a situation where they can realistically only afford to lose two more game this season to keep pace with the teams ahead of them.

‘And, to make matters worse, the fans are turning, they are booing, making decisions and chanting ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

‘That’s not good, especially ahead of the two-week international break, a break in which Emery’s position will be under threat if they fall to the Foxes.’

Merson added: ‘Leicester have been outstanding. They have an unbelievable manager. Brendan Rodgers has improved every single player at his disposal.

‘He’s getting a tune out of every single player, it’s incredible. If they beat Arsenal on Saturday, they will be in the driving seat for the top four.

‘Rodgers has done so well that Leicester have a job on their hands keeping hold of him.

‘If I were Arsenal, I’d be breaking the bank to get him, give him a five-year contract and sit back and watch him transform the club.’

Emery replaced legendary manager Arsene Wenger at Arsenal last year.

MORE: Arsenal told they should have signed Man Utd star instead of Nicolas Pepe