"Nkunku Is Not a Winger!" – Paul Merson Slams Enzo Maresca for Playing Chelsea Star Out of Position

Chelsea’s poor form this season continued with another frustrating 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League. The team lacked energy, desire, and belief, leaving fans disappointed once again.

One of the biggest talking points after the game was how Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is using Christopher Nkunku. Many believe that the French attacker is being played out of position, which is making it difficult for him to perform at his best.

Former Arsenal player and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has criticized Maresca’s decision to play Nkunku as a winger. Merson claimed that Nkunku is best suited to a central attacking role, where he can create chances and link up with teammates.

🗣 Paul Merson: "Christopher Nkunku's position is not on the wing. I feel sorry for him. I like him, I think he's a good player. He's one that plays behind the centre-forward."

~ @SkySports pic.twitter.com/lNgD2KE3g7

— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) March 17, 2025

“Christopher Nkunku’s position is not on the wing. I feel sorry for him. I like him, I think he’s a good player. He should be playing behind the striker.”

Merson added that playing Nkunku out wide limits his impact on the game and stops him from showing his real quality.

One of the reasons why Nkunku is playing on the wing is the rise of Cole Palmer. Palmer has been one of Chelsea’s best players this season and has taken over the central attacking role that Nkunku would normally play.

Merson explained this situation, saying:

“He’s a smart footballer, but the problem is Palmer has been outstanding. I don’t think Chelsea expected Palmer to be this good, which is why they signed Nkunku for a lot of money.”

This has created a big problem for Maresca—should he drop Palmer to let Nkunku play centrally, or should he change his formation to fit both players?

Since coming back from injury, Nkunku has not looked like the player Chelsea fans expected. He has struggled to make an impact and often looks uninterested on the pitch.

Some believe his lack of confidence is because he is being played in the wrong position, while others think he just needs more time to get back to his best. Either way, Chelsea are not getting the best out of a player they spent a lot of money on.

Chelsea fans were already frustrated after the loss to Arsenal, but things got worse when Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber was seen mocking Maresca on the sidelines. This only added to the disappointment for Chelsea supporters.

To make things even more frustrating, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made another mistake during the match. Chelsea fans have seen him make costly errors before, and many feel he cannot be trusted. However, Maresca still defended Sanchez after the game, which did not sit well with the fans.

With Chelsea still struggling, Maresca has some big decisions to make. If he wants Nkunku to succeed, he needs to find a way to play him in his best position.

However, this leads to more questions:

• Should Palmer be moved to another role so Nkunku can play centrally?
• Should Chelsea change their tactics to fit both players?
• Or is Nkunku simply not performing well enough, no matter where he plays?

Chelsea fans will be hoping for quick solutions because if Nkunku continues to struggle, it could be a very disappointing season for both him and the club.