PAUL MERSON has revealed that Walter Smith wanted to bring him to Rangers when he was a youngster at Arsenal – but he admits he didn’t have the “balls” to make the move.

The Gunners legend started off his career at Highbury, joining the club as an apprentice in 1984, before going on to make over 300 appearances for the north London club, scoring 78 goals along the way.

But Merson has recalled how his career could have been so different if he had opted to move to Scotland when Rangers and a certain Walter Smith came calling.

"The opportunity to join Rangers came up a lot.” he said.

“They were always in for me. Walter Smith was the manager. I was playing for Arsenal at that time and I would have probably gone.

"But it's just back then, when you are younger, your agent will say to put in a transfer and you can go. But I didn't have the balls to do that.

"If I'd put in a transfer request I'd have been terrified of George Graham and I would have sat in the reserves for four months. 

"Leeds United were also in for me a lot. Howard Wilknson was the manager there at that time.

"That was a successful Rangers team. It would have suited me.

"Anderlecht also came in for me when I was 17. That really turned my head. They were massive at the time, a top European team.”

Merson is best known these days for accompanying Jeff Stelling and the boys in the Soccer Saturday studio, where he covers matches from the English Premier League.

The 52-year-old rarely takes in some Scottish football action, but speaking to Kris Boyd and Robert Snodgrass on the The Lockdown Tactics podcast, he admitted his admiration for the domestic dominance of Celtic in recent years.

He continued: "I watch Scottish football and the standard can be decent and then I watch it another time and there are some bad mistakes.

"But I really have respect for Celtic, being able to win nine titles on the trot. People will say they are not playing against anybody most weeks but that's disrespectful. 

"They are playing against teams every week and it's their cup final against Celtic. Teams want to beat Celtic so badly, that's for sure.

"The Celtic players need to be on it every week and that's what I admire. It's phenomenal how they do it.

"I watched Rangers wipe the floor with Celtic before the winter break when they won at Celtic Park. They played them off the park. It was embarrassing and it was like Rangers were going to go on and win the league by 15 points.

"Then Celtic went on a run of 10 or 11 games and Rangers are losing against teams lower down the league. That's what I mean about having to turn up every single week.

"I don't think Celtic are much better than Rangers but what they've got is that they turn up every week knowing what to do. Celtic treat every game like a cup final. Rangers need to get that.”

Merson also discussed the age old question of whether Celtic and Rangers should join the English Premier League.

It has been rumoured that the Glasgow pair want to try their luck down south in recent years and Merson reckons they would be a welcome addition.

He said: "Celtic and Rangers are massive football clubs. When I was playing you wanted Rangers or Celtic to play in your testimonial game. Both would bring 20,000 supporters to the game.

"Would I want to see them straight in at the English Premier League? It's a hard one. Leeds United are a big football club and they'd ask why can Celtic and Rangers come straight in and we are not in the Premier League.

"But if they were prepared to start at League Two and work their way through the leagues then I'd love to see that. I'm sure both clubs would be able to get through the leagues, no problem."

On mental health and well-being, Merson added: “Whether you have addictions or mental health issues, don't be scared to talk to someone. It becomes much easier when you open up and share your feelings. 

"I've had my problems with so many things and I used to find it hard to be happy. I'd be in Florida on holiday with my family, the best place in the world you can be with your children, and I just couldn't be happy. 

"I used to look at other families there, being together and having fun, and I used to think 'why I can't be like them, why can't I be happy?'

"But I am learning to appreciate things and cope with life. Just last week at the house I put up a BBQ and a dolls house for my little girl, Sienna.

“I'd never done that in my life, yet I'm 52. That is just normal things for dads and families to do. I got an unbelievable high from that."

The Lockdown Tactics is a brand new podcast, hosted by former Scotland stars Robert Snodgrass and Kris Boyd.

Every week TLT will interview big names with the core focus being on Mental Health and Well-being.

It's chosen charity partner is The Kris Boyd Charity.

To watch the full interview with Paul, go to YouTube and the various TLT social platforms. It will be available from 4pm today (Tuesday).