Graham Potter tipped for Arsenal or Tottenham job after impressing with Brighton

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Paul Merson believes Graham Potter has what it takes to manage a top six side in the Premier League.

Following their 2-0 victory against Leeds United at the weekend, Brighton are now basically safe from relegation for another campaign.

READ MORE: Arteta does not fear Arsenal sack

Not only has Potter guided the Seagulls to safety again, but he has achieved it through playing entertaining football which has earned him many admirers throughout the country.

One of these admirers is apparently Merson, who has tipped him to be on the radar of Tottenham, who are without a manager currently, and Arsenal, who are struggling under Mikel Arteta.

“I’m putting my neck on the line here – I’d take him at Tottenham,” Merson said on Sky Sports.

“I think this manager’s good – I’d take him at Arsenal! If Arteta left tomorrow morning, I’d take him at Arsenal.

“What he does, he plays good football. From box to box, it’s good.”

Brighton’s struggles

Brighton have managed to score just 35 goals in 34 matches so far in 2020/21, but actually have an Expected Goals ratio of 51.20.

This would suggest that they are creating enough chances but simply not putting them away.

Merson believes if Potter had a centre-forward who could score then Brighton would be doing even better than they are already.

“If you can get him a centre-forward… They [Brighton] can’t put the ball in the back of the net,” he added.

“That’s not his fault. He can’t do anything about that, he picks the team.

“It’s hard. Everybody wants a centre-forward.”

Tottenham have been on the lookout for a new manager ever since sacking Jose Mourinho a couple of weeks ago.

Julian Nagelsmann, Brendan Rodgers, and Erik ten Hag have all previously been linked with the job, but Nagelsmann has now joined Bayern, Rodgers has stated he is not interested, while Ten Hag has signed an extended deal with Ajax.