Paul Merson accuses Mikel Arteta of 'losing the plot' in Arsenal's defeat at Tottenham

Paul Merson has identified the fatal flaw in Mikel Arteta he feels cost Arsenal the north London Derby - and possibly a place in the Champions League.

Gunners great Merson, who won five major trophies with the club as a player, reckons Tottenham are now favourites for the top four. They crushed Arsenal 3-0 on Wednesday night for their biggest ever win against them in the Premier League.

Arteta accused referee Paul Tierney, who sent off Rob Holding and awarded Spurs a penalty, of destroying the game afterwards. But Merson insists it was not Holding's red card or Tierney's performance that was to blame for opening the door to Spurs in the race for a Champions League spot.

The former England forward wrote in his Daily Star column: "Blame Mikel Arteta's fatal flaw. He wants to be Pep Guardiola and play Pep Guardiola football all the time but he just doesn't have the players. And that came back to bite him against Tottenham. I got sacked by Walsall for not being a very good manager but even I know how to play against Spurs.

"I like Arteta but he's not Pep. He hasn't got Pep's team. So play to the strengths of your team. It's his biggest flaw. The gameplan he needed was obvious for all to see. But he got it horribly, horribly wrong. He had no pace at centre half with Holding playing there. So drop deep, play on the edge of your box. Don't give Harry Kane any space to drop into, don't give Heung-min Son any space in behind to run into. Simple.

"But Arsenal did the opposite! Arsenal didn't even have to win the game and they went out hell for leather with a high line and blew it. Holding is not good enough. But I'm not blaming him. They should have given him a chance. Not make him defend a high line when he hasn't got the