Jeff Stelling insists Everton are bigger than Arsenal right now, Merson disagrees
Sky Sports pundit Jeff Stelling has claimed on air that Everton are bigger than Arsenal right now, but Paul Merson disagrees, supporting his old side.
The ex-Gunners star has urged them to sign Toffees hitman Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the January transfer window, but Soccer Saturday host Stelling wanted to know why the England international would swap Goodison Park for the Emirates.
Arsenal have been constantly linked with the 24-year-old striker in recent months, but it remains to be seen whether the player would be open to a move or if Everton will cash in on him at all.
Merson said (as shared by Football Daily Twitter account): “Arsenal need to go and buy Calvert-Lewin as soon as he’s fit. Put in a massive bid in for him. They need a focal point up front who’s good…”
Stelling interrupted him, asking: “Why would he go there?”
Merson: “It’s the Arsenal.”
Stelling: “Everton are a big club.”
Merson: “Bigger than Arsenal?”
Stelling: “Why not?”
Merson: “Don’t just say ‘why not?’, tell me a reason why they’re bigger than Arsenal.”
Stelling: “Well, what are Arsenal achieving at the moment?”
Merson: “If Calvert-Lewin goes there, they can finish in the top-four surely.”
Stelling: “When Calvert-Lewin is fit, Everton have got a chance to finish above Arsenal, haven’t they?”
Merson: “No.”
Huge claim
The North Londoners are no longer the powerhouse they used to be in the Premier League, missing out entirely on European football at the end of last season for the first time in 25 years, but are the Blues bigger than them right now?
Rafa Benitez’s side left it late to secure a 2-1 win over Mikel Arteta’s side at Goodison Park on Monday (6 December), and that speaks volumes given their injury woes.
Everton have spent £500million since the summer of 2016, and had they invested in the right players, they could have been regular top-six challengers by now.
They still have a long way to go to be able to attract the calibre of players that Arsenal can right now, and where both teams end the 2021-22 Premier League campaign would have a huge say on their summer transfer window.
Unfortunately, Everton could be tempted to cash in on some of their key players in order to balance the books due to their Financial Fair Play shortcomings, but whether DCL is someone they would be open to selling remains to be seen.
The former Sheffield United is not likely to spend the rest of his career on Merseyside, but leaving the club for Arsenal right now would not look like a move to the next level, and he definitely can do better.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting January loan-to-buy bid for centre-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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