Arsenal could sack Unai Emery with loss at Leicester, and should replace him with Brendan Rodgers, says Paul Merson
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UNAI EMERY could be sacked if Arsenal lose on Saturday and they should replace him with opponents Leicester's manager Brendan Rodgers, according to Paul Merson.
Former Arsenal striker Merson, , blasted Emery and reckons Arsenal should "break the bank" to snap up Rodgers on a five-year-deal and let him "transform the club".
Emery replaced Arsene Wenger and made a strong start to his time at Arsenal, overseeing a 22 game unbeaten run ending in December 2018, but this season his side have only won one of their last five Premier League matches and sit just fifth in the table.
Pressure is growing on Emery as his treatment of outcast Mesut Ozil and decision to strip Granit Xhaka of the captaincy grab the headlines.
Merson said: "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.
"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 place and Arsenal are in a situation where they can realistically only afford to lose two more games 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'.
"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."
Leicester manager Rodgers has excelled at the King Power stadium since joining from Celtic in February after Claude Puel was sacked earlier this year.
Rodgers signed a three-year deal until June 2022 and the Foxes are unlikely to let him go easily having only lost five times in the 24 games since he took charge.
They sit third in the Premier League, six points ahead of Emery's Arsenal in fifth, and the 2016 Premier League champions will hope to secure their second ever season of Champions League football with the Northern Irishman at the helm.
Merson said: "Leicester have been outstanding. They have an unbelievable manager.
"Brendan Rodgers has improved every single player at his disposal.
"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."