Former Arsenal player Paul Merson has claimed that manager Arsene Wenger must be sacked if Leicester City or Tottenham Hotspur win the Premier League title instead of them this season.

The Gunners have a big opportunity to take the crown for the first time since 2004 because Chelsea and Manchester United have dropped out of the running.

Leicester, Spurs and Manchester City stand in Arsenal's way, but Wenger's side suffered a blow in their title bid when they lost 3-2 to United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Arsenal are currently five points behind league leaders Leicester.

"If Man City don't win the league and Tottenham or Leicester do then Arsene Wenger has to go," Merson told Sky Sports News.

"If you're sitting there telling those fans - loyal Arsenal fans - that they don't need any new players at the start of the season and then you don't win the league in front of Leicester or Tottenham then I don't see how you can justify it.

"If Man City win the league he can turn around and say 'they've got all the money in the world and can go and buy whoever they want, so would whoever I bought have made much difference?' But if Leicester or Tottenham win the league after he said they didn't need any players then I don't see how he can keep his job."

Arsenal will play Swansea City at the Emirates on Wednesday.