'Be better': Paul Merson says £40m Tottenham man has to step it up after seeing him in person v Arsenal

09/16/2024 02:15 AM

There was plenty to pick apart from Tottenham’s performance v Arsenal yesterday and Paul Merson has called for one big signing to step up for Spurs.

Arsenal held firm at the back once again to see out the win after Gabriel had headed them into a deserved lead.

For Tottenham, there were a number of issues at large in the performance and even Gary Neville picked up on what he called ‘weird’ behaviour just before the Arsenal goal.

• READ MORE: Paul Merson responds to Ange Postecoglou's trophy comments after Tottenham lose to Arsenal

Jamie Redknapp called on Cristian Romero to be better, while Matt Upson has suggested that Ange Postecoglou could be under pressure if results carry on.

And according to former Arsenal man Paul Merson, Spurs midfielder James Maddison also needs to up his game.

Paul Merson tells James Maddison to be better after Tottenham v Arsenal

Speaking on Sky Sports about Tottenham’s issues after the game, Merson picked up on a few points.

And one was the performances of big players, including James Maddison, who he feels needs to do more.

"Some of the big players have got to step up. James Maddison wasn't great today. He has got to step up. He has got to be better,” Merson said.

“He is playing in a position where you have got to make things happen. I don't personally think he did that today, and who he was playing against, it has got to better.

“I am not digging him out because I am a big fan of his, but I played in that position and I know what you have got to do and he needs to do better."

Maddison has to do more

He might be former Arsenal and have a bias, but Merson makes a good point here and players like James Maddison do need to do more.

£40m signing Maddison has been pretty quiet in a Tottenham shirt ever since he got injured last season and at the moment, they need him firing.

As Merson says, he plays in a position that can really affect the game and at times yesterday, he looked like he’d gone missing a touch.

Maddison, then, will be keen to improve and will feel like he’s got much more to give.