When Paul Merson speaks, football fans listen—sometimes out of respect, sometimes out of sheer curiosity to see what wild turn his opinion will take. This time, the former Arsenal man isn’t pulling punches. Merson believes Jamie Gittens is nowhere near Chelsea’s starting lineup for the upcoming clash against Liverpool, and judging by recent performances, he may have a point.
Chelsea spent £48 million prying Gittens away from Borussia Dortmund, expecting a lightning bolt down the wing. Instead, they’ve got more of a flickering bulb—bright in flashes, unreliable most of the time.
Paul Merson questions Chelsea’s attacking chaos
According to sources, Merson has been “utterly baffled” by Chelsea’s front-line merry-go-round. Five new attacking signings later, and Enzo Maresca still looks like he’s trying to crack a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded.
Gittens has started just two of Chelsea’s opening six Premier League games, offering little spark in either. Even in the Carabao Cup against League One side Lincoln, he failed to set the stage alight. Merson’s take? “He’s behind the eight-ball at Chelsea,” and frankly, it’s hard to disagree.
Paul Merson says Estevao looks the better option
While Gittens struggles to find rhythm, Estevao has danced his way into contention. “He’s a good player,” Merson admitted, probably through slightly gritted teeth. Chelsea fans are wondering how the club can spend over a billion pounds and still not know who their best XI is. Somewhere, Todd Boehly’s calculator is crying.
Author’s Take: Patience or panic button?
If you ask me, Jamie Gittens doesn’t need another loan spell or another coach whispering “believe in yourself” like a motivational poster. He needs minutes—and a little old-school grit. Yes, he’s raw. Yes, he overthinks. But football careers aren’t TikTok clips—you can’t judge them in ten seconds.
Still, with Liverpool looming, Gittens may have to watch from the bench again. As Merson might say—you can’t score from the stands, mate.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
