So, Arsenal’s search for Arsene Wenger’s successor starts today.Wenger shocked everyone at the north London by announcing that he will leave the club at the end of the season after 21 years in charge on Friday morning.The Frenchman will be desperate to go out on a high by winning the Europa League and leaving the Gunners having delivered Champions League football.But who will be in the hot seat at the Emirates come next season?There isn’t an obvious candidate but the bookmakers make Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers as favourite, just ahead of former captain Patrick Vieira
.And one man that is backing Rodgers for the job is Paul Merson.The former Arsenal player was appearing on Sky Sports on Friday morning to discuss all of the candidates - and suggested Rodgers “ticks all the boxes.”

MERSON IS BACKING BRENDAN RODGERS

“I like Brendan Rodgers,” Merson admitted.

“I think he ticks all the boxes. He was at Liverpool. People go on ‘Well, he had Suarez’ but he still had to get a tune out of Suarez when he there which he did. And they’ve never been nearer to winning the league.

“One, he’s managed a massive club in Liverpool. Now he manages a club that have a cup final every weekend. He has to get those players up whoever they play and he plays the exact same way as Arsenal.

“I think he [Rodgers] ticks all the boxes for Arsenal. I really do.”

But Arsenal fans completely disagree.

They’ve been reacting to Merson’s comments on social media and it’s fair to say they aren't too happy.

While Merson took time to consider Wenger’s replacement, he also paid a massive tribute to his former boss.

In fact, Merson believes they should rename the Emirates Stadium to “The Emirates Arsene Wenger Stadium."

It doesn’t quite flow but the sentiment is there.

But the Sky Sports pundit is in no doubt that Wenger is very much a “legend” at Arsenal.

"He is a legend," Merson said.

"The word 'legend' is used loosely in football but, at Arsenal, there's no doubt about it, he's a legend.”