Latest news with #PaulMerson
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Paul Merson gives brutal verdict on Noni Madueke's £52m move to Arsenal and raises fear over Bukayo Saka's future at the Emirates - claiming Chelsea 'won't believe their luck'
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has brutally claimed that Noni Madueke is the 'last' player the club should have signed from Chelsea. The former defender also believes the move raises concerns about Bukayo Saka 's future at the Emirates. Merson's scathing critique of Arsenal's latest signing adds to growing discontent over the £52million deal. The winger completed a move to north London on Friday, becoming Arsenal's fourth signing of the summer and the seventh Chelsea player to join the club under Mikel Arteta. Madueke, 23, will wear the number 20 shirt and is set to join up with his new teammates in early August, having been involved in Chelsea's victorious Club World Cup campaign. Following his arrival, Arteta said: 'We're all so happy to welcome Noni Madueke to the team. 'Noni is an exciting and powerful young player, with his performances and numbers in recent seasons being of consistently high quality. He is one of the most talented wide forward players in the Premier League,' But section of the Arsenal fan base have treated his move with scepticism, with more than 5,200 signing a #NoToMadueke petition against the transfer. Merson, who captained Arsenal but is a Chelsea supporter, has added to that doubt. 'I am flabbergasted by Arsenal signing Noni Madueke,' the 57-year-old wrote in his Sky Sports column. 'Chelsea just won't believe that this deal has come to them. They won't believe their luck.' He added: 'I'm shocked. If Arsenal went and bought any player from Chelsea, he'd have been the last one I thought they'd sign. Merson also claimed he would have played Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho over the 23-year-old at Chelsea. He is also fearful that his move signals an impending departure for key man Bukayo Saka. 'Are they getting this deal done and then all of a sudden it allows a potential sale of Saka or someone else,' Merson wrote. 'If fit, he plays. So why do you spend £52m on a backup for him?' Madueke, who made his England debut last year, is no stranger to critics. He even thanked Chelsea fans for their criticism in his emotional goodbye message to the club. He wrote: 'Dear Chelsea Football Club, I want to thank you for the last 3 or so years. To every staff member that helped me along this journey, thank you. To my teammates thank you for everything, I leave with only love and admiration for you guys. We achieved so much this season and I honestly wish you guys nothing but the best. 'To Enzo Maresca, it was a privilege to play under you, thank you for trying to better me as a player and as a person. Lastly, thank you to every single Chelsea fan. Thank you for the love, the praise and also the criticism, I appreciate it all. I leave here with nothing but fond memories. 'Love NM11.' Meanwhile, United legend Rio Ferdinand leapt to his defence last week, accusing 'vulgar' Arsenal fans of 'utterly disgraceful behaviour against Madueke by protesting his arrival at the club. 'Just put yourself in his shoes for one minute just put yourself in his parents shoes for one minute and just think of how that feeling must be,' he wrote. Madueke joined Chelsea from PSV in January 2023 and went on to play 92 games for the Blues, while he scored 20 goals and provided nine assists. He won the Conference League with Chelsea last season and also featured in their successful Club World Cup campaign although he wasn't involved in the final as he neared his move to Arsenal.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Eagle-eyed football fans spot social media gaffe from Paul Merson as Arsenal legend is left red-faced
Eagle eyed social media users have spotted a light-hearted social media gaffe from Arsenal legend Paul Merson. Merson is counted among the best-loved former players at the north London club, playing over 420 times for the Gunners in 12 years at Highbury, scoring 99 times in the process. He has since successfully transitioned into a job in the media, having featured on Sky Sports coverage in recent years, having officially hung up his boots in 2012 having seemingly retired in 2006. However, his recent social media activity saw some send light-hearted jibes his way, after seemingly forgetting to edit a message before posting it on X, formerly Twitter. 'Incredible day @slimmingworld meeting 41 amazing men who have lost a life-changing 330st 2lbs! Please also include #ad,' the former England international wrote. However, his slight error didn't escape notice with one fan spotting it and responding with a number of crying emojis. He claimed last season that Mikel Arteta may find himself under pressure by Christmas should Arsenal not be in the top two in the league Towards the end of last season, Merson made the perhaps bold claim that Mikel Arteta has 'until Christmas' to be in the top two before questions are asked about his future. He said: '[Arsenal] need a centre-forward and they need back up in big positions. At the moment when they make changes it weakens the team. At Arsenal the front three are not real natural goalscorers. 'There's a saying in life if you keep doing the same things you get the same results it's insanity. They keep on doing it again next year it's madness. 'The problem is, I'm trying to back them up but you've got to win something. It's not easy. Every time it gets to latter stages they go. They keep on falling short. It becomes normal. It becomes natural it's hard. 'I think Arteta has got until Christmas. They will have to be in the top two at Christmas to keep on going.' While Arsenal have now secured Champions League football for a third consecutive season, their only major trophy under Arteta is the 2020 FA Cup. The Gunners have been proactive in the transfer window so far, bringing in Martin Zubimendi for £65million, Kepa Arrizabalaga for £5m, and are thought to have completed a £12m deal for Brentford captain Christian Norgaard. The club have been circling Viktor Gyokeres as well to bring in a natural goal-scorer, though an agreement with Sporting is still yet to be made, despite reportedly agreeing terms with the player.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man who lost half his body weight praised by football legend
A MAN who lost almost half his body weight after joining a football team won a national award for his achievement - and joked with a soccer legend at the ceremony. Max Shearer, 27, who lives in Weymouth, made news last year after losing 10 stone in 15 months through MAN V FAT Weymouth, an FA-accredited football-based healthy lifestyle programme. He made the decision to lose weight after he broke two office chairs in his workplace and is now close to losing 50 per cent of his body weight. He has since lost an impressive total of 12.5 stone, just half a stone short of 50 per cent of his body weight. For his achievements, he was named Most Valuable Player at the national awards for the programme, receiving his award from former England and Arsenal player Paul Merson at a special event at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. The Most Valuable Player is defined as the one person a club can't do without - the top contributor on the pitch, on the scales or in other weekly challenges. Max Shearer with Paul Merson at the MAN V FAT awards in London (Image: MAN V FAT) Talking about the awards ceremony, Max said: "We had a massive football game called the Amazing Losers game due to the fact that we have lost the most weight which was great fun before the awards the next day. "I was up for two awards, this and the Amazing Loser award, and wasn't expecting to win. I'm a Spurs fan so I had to put Paul Merson in his place after we won another European trophy but it was great banter and an insane experience." Speaking again about his journey, Max said: 'When I broke the first chair, my work colleagues just told me they were old or rubbish chairs but the second time it happened, it was clear there was a reason why those chairs broke so easily. I was exploring various avenues about how I could lose weight and then MAN v FAT was recommended by a man at the local gym.' Max says it has been the accountability and the community that meant he kept going every week: 'The support and everything they gave me, not just with losing weight but also mental health was the reason I kept coming back every week. 'It's a subject that isn't noticed enough when it comes to men's weight loss. But the accountability and the community gave me support in so many aspects of my life other than just weight loss. MAN v FAT Weymouth is such an incredible group of guys, and I really would encourage anyone to take that first step at join MAN v FAT. It is so worth it.' Max before his weight loss journey (Image: Max Shearer) The next target for Max is to reach his 50 per cent weight loss milestone: 'I'm about a few kilograms away from my 50 per cent and that would be a real achievement but if I can inspire anyone to try and go on a similar route that would be great. 'I'm now approaching a much healthier body weight and anyone who can do that, they are the real winners. It doesn't matter what shiny trophy you get - if you're becoming fitter and healthier, that is the real win.' Around 8,500 men currently take part at more than 150 MAN v FAT Football clubs across the UK. Aimed at men with a BMI of higher than 27.5, the total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players in the UK currently stands at more than 800,000 pounds. At sessions, players are weighed, this is followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side football, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on their weight loss. A team's total weight loss and match scores then contribute to its position within a club's overall league table The Weymouth club meets on Monday evenings at the Redlands Community Sports Hub, Dorchester Road. To find out more about MAN v FAT Football and to locate your closest club, visit
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Thierry Henry calls out Mikel Arteta for his lack of trophies - as Arsenal legend makes stark comparison with Man United
Thierry Henry insists Mikel Arteta should be doing better with Arsenal and challenging more robustly for silverware. The Gunners legend believes fans have a right to question the manager after three seasons of being second-best - and five without a proper trophy. Arteta has restored Arsenal to the elite since taking over in December 2019 but has only lifted one competitive trophy - the FA Cup in that first season - and two Community Shields. Their growing reputation as nearlymen has led to pundits piling the pressure on the Spaniard, with Paul Merson suggesting he could be sacked by Christmas if they are not in the hunt for the Premier League. Now Henry has weighed in and made a pointed remark with Manchester United, who are still reaching and winning finals despite their almighty slump. 'I'm not saying that I'm disappointed with Arsenal, but it's normal that people are raising questions now about what the team is doing,' Henry told the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. 'I understand that at the very beginning [for Mikel Arteta] you arrive and it's not your team, you need at the very least three or four transfer windows to change everything that you want to. 'It takes time and you have to give a manager time to be able to implement what he wants to do. 'Now, for the last three years Arsenal have been in a situation where they should have at least brought one cup in or a final. 'Manchester United have played in five finals in the last five years, the United that everyone laughs at, whereas for Arsenal in the last three years of building, they've not reached a final. 'So, I do understand when people ask the question, "Surely you should compete for a trophy?" There is little doubting Arteta's transformative effect on Arsenal and it is worth highlighting their plight before he came in. The Gunners had finished outside the top four for three consecutive seasons when he came in but, after some teething issues, he has them back near the top. Arteta has gutted the dressing room of problematic personalities and instilled the players with belief that they can compete for the highets honours. Twice they have come close to winning the Premier League - last season they finished on 89 points, which would have been enough this time - and this campoaign they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League after thrashing Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate. Amid some devastating injuries, they have retained their record as the side with the best defensive record for another season and played attractive football going forward. But the truth stands that Man United, going through a downbeat era, have still won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the last five seasons, also reaching another final of football's oldest competition and the last two of the Europa League twice. Jamie Carragher also believes Arteta is under pressure to deliver another trinket. 'This season felt like it should have been their season,' the Liverpool icon recently told Sky Sports. 'There's no doubt next season that the pressure will be on Mikel Arteta massively in terms of winning something and winning something big. 'The Arsenal board, if they don't [win a major trophy], will have a massive issue because they won't want to change their manager, but there will be that many people saying: five or six years without a trophy. 'They will be looking at how many managers can make that next step.'
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Paul Merson has telling response to Arsenal or Spurs 'better season' question
Paul Merson has suggested that Tottenham may have had a better season than Arsenal after landing the Europa League whilst the Gunners remain trophyless since 2020 Paul Merson has confessed that it is "all about winning trophies" as he was asked to determine who'd had the better season, Tottenham or Arsenal in light of the Europa League final. Those on the white side of north London are currently basking in European glory. They downed Manchester United in Bilbao, ending a 17-year trophy drought in the process. Their European form has covered for an horrendous Premier League season, which has them down in 17th. However the capture of a trophy has changed the narrative. Arsenal meanwhile, who completed a league double over Tottenham, have finished second and reached the last four of the Champions League. However their wait for silverware, which goes back to 2020, has rolled over after they fell short again. Mikel Arteta's side struggled to mount a genuine title charge and the Spaniard is coming under increasing pressure to deliver given the investment he's had in his squad. Tottenham are currently enjoying some bragging rights following the Europa League final. And now Merson has suggested that landing a trophy means that those in white may be able to boast about having the better year despite Arsenal sitting 15 places and 33 points ahead of their neighbours. He told Sky Sports: "Who's the best Messi or Ronaldo? Split it down the middle. For me it is all about winning trophies, I played to win trophies. I was in teams to win trophies, not come second, third or fourth. When you're at top clubs are you're not winning trophies it becomes a disappointment. Split everybody down the middle. "They had a great week Tottenham, but Arsenal have had a good season, getting to the semi-finals and finishing second but they haven't won anything. For me, it is all about winning." Arteta, who congratulated Tottenham on their success, was quizzed on whether their local rivals had enjoyed a better year, but refused to be drawn on such comparisons. "I don't like to compare with other teams," he said. "I need to analyse my team - that's my job". The Arsenal boss has recently had to defend the lack of silverware that's arrived at the Emirates. Their last trophy was the FA Cup. Their last Premier League triumph was 2004. But Arteta has said: "Winning trophies as well is about being in the right moment, in the right place." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
