Arsenal legend Paul Merson thinks they are miles away from being a top team.

He believes that even if they were to hire Pep Guardiola as a manager, they would be behind the best sides in the country and Europe.

Gunners fans are hoping recently hired boss Mikel Arteta can rebuild the team in the next few years. But Merson is skeptical.

"Even if Pep Guardiola was in charge, no," the former Gunners star told Sky Sports about whether Arsenal would be quickly successful.

"Arsene Wenger used to say all the time that it's all about the players. Arsenal's players – it's not a good enough team, it's not a good enough squad.

"I like Arteta, I really do. I think he'll do better than the last manager. But at the same time, to go and challenge for the title, I think they are a million miles off. They can't defend."

He went on to say whether Arteta was the right man to win them trophies: "I'm going to go no, if I'm being honest.

"I don't know any team that has ever won anything that can't defend. If you can't defend, you aren't going to win anything.

"You can't keep scoring three goals every game to try and nick a point or just win a game. Until he tightens that up, they are going to be a million miles off.

"I think this is going to be a slow, slow journey back for Arsenal."