Merson – Arsenal should have purchased a striker in January

After a run of poor results, Arsenal are at risk of losing out on the Premier League title. Due to the  0-0 draw with Southampton, the Gunners dropped to fourth in the division – five points behind leaders Leicester City.

A big factor in this recent lack of form is the lack of goals scored. Olivier Giroud – Arsenal’s main striker – has now not bagged a single goal since the 3-3 draw with Liverpool, and Arsenal overall, have not scored in three consecutive league games. It is the lack of options up front that worries some spectators, especially Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson.

Merson recently criticised Wenger, via Sky Sports, for not buying a striker in January, and believes this will cost them in the long run.

I was very disappointed Arsenal didn’t do more business on Deadline Day, they needed a centre forward, they need to score goals.

All the clubs down the bottom signed strikers to help them avoid relegation, and it’s the same if you’re going for titles, you need to score goals. If Olivier Giroud gets injured, Arsenal are in major trouble in terms of winning the league.

Up until the new year, Arsenal had looked on course to finally win the Premier League title after 12 years. Since then, their form has been worrying and now securing fourth seems to be questionable. A win against Bournemouth is essential on Sunday, according to Merson, Arsenal must bounce back and put pressure back on the top three

For me, Sunday’s game at Bournemouth is a cup final – they have to win, it’s as simple as that.

It’s a good game for Arsenal because they’re not going to be kicked off the park, Bournemouth are a nice footballing team.

Arsenal will play the same way as they have done ever since Arsene Wenger got there 20 years ago and they’ll get the ball down, pass and keep faith in the way they play.

But, for me, this is a must-win game, a draw is just no good for Arsenal now. They gone from title favourites to playing catch-up in no time.

If they lose at Bournemouth, and Manchester United win at Chelsea, all of a sudden there are two points between those two, and things will start to get worrying.