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Arsenal news: ‘He'd walk into Emery's team, I’d be shocked if he stayed’ - transfer claim
WATFORD midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure would “walk into Arsenal’s team” and will not be with the Hornets next season.
Abdoulaye Doucoure plays football with kids in hometown
That is the view of Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal forward Paul Merson.
Doucoure has once again impressed in the Watford midfield this season.
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The Frenchman started the first 19 Premier League games of the campaign until dropping to the bench for Saturday’s visit of Newcastle.
Merson is a fan of Doucoure and has previously spoken of the 25-year-old being good enough for the top teams in the Premier League.
He would walk into Arsenal’s team tomorrow morning in my opinion
He reckons he would make an immediate improvement to Unai Emery’s Arsenal side.
And Merson cannot see Doucoure remaining a Watford player for much longer.
“They might keep hold of him this January,” Merson said.
“But I think if he keeps doing what he’s doing I’d be shocked if he was playing at Watford Football Club next season.
“That’s no disrespect to Watford Football Club.
“I think [he could play for a team in the] top six.
“He would walk into Arsenal’s team tomorrow morning in my opinion. He would walk into Arsenal’s team.
“You talk in this day and age about players going somewhere and be squad players.
“Would he be out of place at Man City? We’ve seen what’s happened with Fernandinho, people haven’t been able to step in and do what he does.
“He’s got legs, he gets around the pitch, he does things, he can score a goal. I think he could play for any of them.
“I said Man United the other week and then Man United fans will go ‘why are we buying players from Watford? We’re better than that’.
“I think he’s a very good player, very good player.”