The former Gunners star fears the problems which held the club back towards the end of Arsene Wenger's reign remain underneath the guidance of Unai Emery
Mesut Ozil and Arsenal showed during their 2-0 defeat to Manchester city that they nonetheless lack mental power, in line with Paul Merson.
The Gunners faced accusations of lacking the stomach for a combat towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s reign, with those troubles leading to a tumble out of the premier League’s top four.
Unai Emery was drafted in to the turn the tide, however Merson says Arsenal continue to be "a cute bunch of lads".
He fears that will continue to keep the club back, with finances seemingly of more concern to those in north London than results on the field.
The former Gunners midfielder told Sky sports: "if you want to keep on coming along creating wealth and finishing fifth or sixth, nothing has to change. but in case you need to break in, get to that level, it's going to need a better mentality of player; I don't think the players are mentally robust enough.
"I don't see it - when it went 2-0 and the picture panned away and Bernardo Silva ran to the crowd, it was like Laurel and Hardy with Mesut Ozil, 'it is the end of that game'.
"They just appear to be a lovely bunch of lads, not even Granit Xhaka is getting them to come on - you never see it with Arsenal."
Even as Merson believes Arsenal are continuing to regress, ex-Gunners goalkeeper Jens Lehmann believes Emery has inherited a positive situation from long-serving Wenger .
He stated: "I don't consider it a re-build, the brand new manager has taken over a club in almost a perfect environment.
"The players have a good attitude. I expected a bit greater on Saturday, they had a large change, and after 22 years it is different if something is new, of course. it could have been my grandmother in charge, or whoever, however it is nonetheless new.
"I don't agree that when 22 years it takes a while to enhance - the 22 years were notable, and Arsene has invented the best football in the country, likely throughout Europe. Pep Guardiola took him as a position model in his best years, perhaps 10 years ago.
"In this 22 years, it was a period of success. not the ultimate achievement, and in latest years not the biggest achievement with missing out on the Champions League, but it has been a remarkable time altogether."
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