Piers Morgan lays into 'bench-warmer' Michael Owen over claim Raheem Sterling is better than Mesut Ozil

The former editor of the Mirror has said Owen should be retired

Michael Owen and Piers Morgan on BT Sport (BT SPORT)

Piers Morgan has said Michael Owen should be 'retired' after the BT Sport analyst claimed Raheem Sterling was a better player than Mesut Ozil.

Owen's view that the England youngster is better than the German World Cup winner was all the more bizarre with it expressed in the aftermath of a 4-1 win for Arsenal over Liverpool in which Ozil scored a sublime free-kick as part of a brilliant display. Sterling meanwhile endured a frustrating afternoon at the Emirates.

Speaking on BT Sport show Fletch & Sav, Owen said: "He's better than Ozil. I think he's better than Welbeck."

Arsenal fan and former Mirror editor Piers Morgan was a guest on the show later in the afternoon and took Owen to task.

Referring to Owen as 'bench-warmer' or 'million-dollar man' rather than by his name, Morgan said the claim that Sterling is better than Ozil is 'utterly ridiculous', adding that Ozil is 'comfortably a better footballer'.

(Getty Images)

Raheem Sterling reacts in frustration after missing a chance (Getty Images)

Morgan also took Owen to task for suggesting Liverpool should win the FA Cup, pointing out that they were still yet to secure a place in the semi-finals with a tricky replay against Blackburn to be navigated.

Morgan said if by some 'miracle' Liverpool manage to reach the final, Arsenal 'will beat them at Wembley. Period.'

Morgan also pointed out that at the start of the season Owen predicted Arsenal would fail to qualify for the Champions League - something they now look guaranteed to achieve after their win over Liverpool.

Watch Morgan lay into Owen below...

With presenters Robbie Savage and Darren Fletcher unable to contain their amusement at the attack on their BT Sport colleague, Morgan rounded off his attack by saying: 'Bench-warmer needs to be retired, like his horse to stud.'