Former midfielder Paul Merson has claimed that Arsenal are "a million miles" from challenging for the Premier League title.

Although the Gunners have improved since the appointment of Mikel Arteta in December, they only held ninth position in the table before football was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite insisting that he values the Spaniard, Merson feels that the North London outfit would not be contenders for the top-flight crown even with Pep Guardiola in the dugout.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, the Englishman said: "Will Arsenal be challenging for titles soon? Even if Pep Guardiola was in charge, no. Not at the moment.

"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."

Arteta has recorded eight wins and just two defeats from his opening 16 games in charge of Arsenal.