Despite some signs of improvement after Mikel Arteta replaced Unai Emery as Arsenal head coach, the Gunners are eight points away from the top four as they languished at the wrong end of the Premier League table before the season was suspended due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
Merson believes Arteta will do a better job than Emery but he admits his former side are far from mounting a title challenge.
“Will Arsenal be challenging for titles soon? Even if Pep Guardiola was in charge, no. Not at the moment,” the 52-year-old told Sky Sports.
“Arsene Wenger used to say it all the time, it’s all about the players – and for Arsenal at the moment, it’s not a good enough team, not a good enough squad.”
“I like Mikel Arteta, I really do, and I think he’ll do better than the last manager Unai Emery, but at the same time, to challenge for the title I think they are a million miles off.”
“They can’t defend, and if you can’t defend, you can’t challenge for titles,” he added.
“Is there room for much optimism? I’m going to say no, to be honest. I don’t know any team that has won anything when they can’t defend. If you can’t defend, you’re not going to win anything! It’s simple.”
“You can’t keep scoring three goals every game to nick a point or to only just win a game, so until he tightens that up, they are going to be a million miles off.”
“This is going to be a slow, slow journey back for Arsenal.”
Merson played for Arsenal for twelve years during his playing days where he scored 78 goals 327 league appearances, winning two league titles in the process.
