The Profile
Paul's story, told with respect to the facts.
Paul Merson won everything with Arsenal that you could win at Arsenal in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The First Division title in 1989 with the George Graham side, another in 1991, an FA Cup and League Cup double in 1993. He was a playmaker with the kind of vision that made the most of the Arsenal team around him, and when he moved to Aston Villa and then Middlesbrough, his game adapted and kept producing.
What has made Merson's second act so memorable is his openness. His struggles with gambling and alcohol became public years ago, and rather than bury them, he has spoken about them constantly, in interviews, in his autobiography, in documentaries. He has done more to normalise the conversation about footballer mental health in Britain than almost any other ex-player of his generation.
His Sky Sports Soccer Saturday role, alongside Jeff Stelling and Charlie Nicholas for many years, was defined by the honest reactions. When his team was losing, he was genuinely upset on television. When a player made a mistake, he called it a mistake and then explained what they should have done instead. The unvarnished nature of it was part of the charm.
At Steam, in January 2026, he spoke about the Arsenal title years, the moments that still stand out, and the parts of his career he wishes he could rewind. The room was moved, not just entertained.
“I won the league twice at Arsenal and if you ask me now which game I remember best, it's the training ground game where I nutmegged Tony Adams.”
Career highlights
- Two First Division titles with Arsenal
- FA Cup and League Cup double with Arsenal, 1993
- Cup Winners Cup winner with Arsenal, 1994
- 21 England caps
- Author of Hero and Villain and How Not To Be A Professional Footballer
- Sky Sports Soccer Saturday panellist
First hand
Paul Merson at Steam
Paul spoke at Steam in January 2026 and was as open and generous with his stories as anyone we have ever hosted. He took his time with every single question.