Arsenal legend Paul Merson has been forced into an embarrassing climbdown and admitted he was wrong to criticise the England call up for Andros Townsend . The Tottenham winger came off the bench to score the equaliser with a stunning strike in Tuesday 's 1-1 draw with Italy in Turin . It was the perfect riposte after Merson said in his Sky Sports column : 'If Andros Townsend can get in ( the England squad ) then it opens it up for anybody . ' Andros Townsend scores England 's equaliser in their 1-1 friendly draw with Italy in Turin on Tuesday night . Townsend celebrates his strike with Tottenham Hotspur team-mates Ryan Mason ( left ) and Kyle Walker . In his column for skysports.com , Merson wrote : 'If Andros Townsend can get in then it opens it up for anybody . We are not picking players who are playing well for their clubs – he got taken off after 30 minutes the other week against United . 'The England manager is there watching the game and he still gets picked . Townsend and Kyle Walker were the worst two players on the pitch . 'How can you tell me that a manager goes and watches Man United against Tottenham , the winger gets taken off after 30 minutes , the winger from the other team absolutely rinses the full-back for England and Ashley Young does n't get in the squad ? ' Townsend later tweeted to his 285,000 followers : 'Not bad for a player that should be 'nowhere near the squad ' ay @ PaulMerse ? ' And Merson insisted on Wednesday he was pleased to be proven wrong by the 23-year-old . Merson told Sky Sports : 'It 's just a matter of opinion , and my opinion was that he got pulled off after half an hour at Manchester United in front of Roy Hodgson , so he should n't have been in the squad . 'But fair play to him , I only give my opinion , and sometimes I 'm wrong , other times I 'm right . 'When I 'm wrong , I hold my hands up . I do n't have a problem with doing that - I 'll always be the first to admit when I 'm wrong . 'It 's not as though I was watching hoping he would n't score for England , I 'm genuinely pleased for him and fair play to him – it was a great goal . 'But I do n't feel as though I need to defend myself – it 's my job to give my opinion – and I 'm just glad people actually take notice of what I 'm saying ! ' Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson ( centre ) criticised Townsend 's call-up to the England squad last week . Harry Kane congratulates his Tottenham team-mate Townsend after the final whistle in Turin . Roy Hodgson was also impressed with Townsend after the Tottenham winger 's fine goal after the break .
Paul Merson had questioned England selection of Andros Townsend . Tottenham winger scored equaliser in Wednesday 's 1-1 draw with Italy . Merson admitted Townsend had proved him wrong with 'great goal '