Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher thinks Arsenal could relinquish the Premier League title
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher doesn’t feel Arsenal lack a superstar in the final third (Image: The Overlap)
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal could lose the Premier League title due to a “lack of superstars” in the final third, despite currently trailing Manchester City by four points. The former Reds defender has delivered a brutal verdict on Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, claiming the pair failed to achieve the heights expected of them at the Emirates Stadium.
Carragher has no doubts about the Gunners’ mental strength, but feels Mikel Arteta’s side lack quality in the final third, despite scoring the second most goals in the Premier League this season. Josep Guardiola’s Manchester City are Arsenal’s closest rivals for the title and currently sit second in the table, four points behind the Gunners.
Director Carragher said in Overlap: “About a month ago, I commented on Arsenal after choosing the best team of the season in the Premier League.
read more: Arsenal News: Mikel Arteta reveals future plans for Bukayo Saka following contract revelationsread more: The former Arsenal star suffered a season-ending injury just weeks after leaving the Gunners.
“People talk about their mentality and I actually think Arsenal have a great mentality. But their problem may be a lack of quality in the final third.”
“When you look at Arsenal, you don’t think they have absolute superstars in their front four or five. A few years ago I thought Saka and Odegaard would get there.”
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“I thought they were ready to be almost the best player in the Premier League. I still don’t think Arsenal could have gotten a player like that.
“So people talk about Arsenal’s mentality, but I think it’s actually the quality that can stop them[in the title race].
“I think everyone agrees that Arsenal are the best team this season, but Man City have been there before, even if they’re not a vintage city.”
Bukayo Saka before the match against Arsenal (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
This season, Saka and Odegaard have both suffered injuries and the season has been suspended.
The England international suffered a hamstring injury earlier this season in August’s 5-1 win over Leeds United.
He missed Arsenal’s next five games with a muscle problem, but suffered a further setback when he injured his lower back during the warm-up before the Gunners’ 4-0 win over Los Blancos in a come-from-behind game at Elland Road.
Midfield playmaker Odegaard has also been plagued by injuries this season. The Norway international had to battle shoulder problems early in the season, before sustaining an MCL injury in October’s 2-0 win over West Ham United.
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This meant he became the first player in Premier League history to start three games in a row and be substituted before half-time.
Odegaard has scored just one goal in the Premier League so far this season, while Saka has only scored four goals in the top flight this season.
The Gunners return to Premier League action on Wednesday and can move back to seven points behind Man City if they defeat relegation-battling Wolves at Molineux.
Arteta’s side then travel to Tottenham for this weekend’s north London derby. The derby will be Igor Tudor’s first game in charge of Spurs.
