Former midfielder Paul Merson has claimed that the Arsenal job may prove too big for Mikel Arteta at this stage of his career.

Having spent time as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City, Arteta is allegedly on the brink of becoming the new manager at the Emirates Stadium.

However, withe the Gunners continuing to underperform under interim boss Freddie Ljungberg after the exit of Unai Emery, Merson feels that appointing an inexperienced figure would be 'a big gamble'.

Merson told Sky Sports News: "This is a big, big gamble putting someone that has never managed before in charge of a club the size of Arsenal. It's all well and good saying he's worked under Pep Guardiola, but let's be honest, Guardiola would struggle managing this Arsenal team. Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would struggle.

"You're only as good as your players at the end of the day and the idea of Arteta replicating Guardiola's style of football at the Emirates just falls apart when you look at the players he'll be working with.

"To ask someone with no managerial experience to take charge in the current circumstances at Arsenal is a big ask, but there are also massive question marks over his credentials, massive questions.

"One of the major factors with Arteta being linked with the job is that he's worked closely under Guardiola, and he used to play at Arsenal. Other than the fact he won't get lost on the way to training, I don't know what else he brings to the table."

A number of senior players have reportedly expressed concern over the arrival of the Spaniard, who spent the final five years of his playing days in North London.