Carragher doubts Arsenal title credentials due to "average" form of four players

27 November 2023 , 21:46

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Carragher doubts Arsenal title credentials due to "average" form of four players

Jamie Carragher has not been impressed with the form of Arsenal's forward line so far this season while raising doubts over the Gunners' Premier League title chances.

Thanks to Saturday's late 1-0 win away to Brentford, Arsenal now sit top of the table one point above champions Manchester City. Carragher, though, doesn't see Mikel Arteta's side coming out on top in the long haul; critiquing the drop-off in goals and assists from attacking quartet Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.

"We are only a third of the way through the season but if this is the Arsenal we are going to see this season I don't think they can win the league," the former Liverpool defender declared on Monday Night Football. "So many games are going to the wire and sometimes they can go against you. Those 1-0 wins could easily be 1-0 defeats. There isn't the same pace and fluidity, creating chances and I don't think it is anything tactical.

"I am still seeing the same things from Arsenal. I just think individually the attacking players have been average whereas they were on fire last season. Martinelli, Saka, Jesus and Odegaard, who was up there with Kevin De Bruyne last season. I know he (Odegaard) has had some injury problems but the stats aren't great."

Carragher's argument has foundation, too, with only Saka managing more than four goals and assists combined in the Premier League this term. Ex-Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, however, posed a theory as to why the Gunners are looking less sharp in attack.

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"Last season they were a bit quicker offensively and sharper with how they moved the ball," Ljungberg explained. "But other teams now have more respect for Arsenal. They now approach facing Arsenal in the same way they would facing Manchester City.

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Martin Odegaard's performances this season have paled in comparison to last term (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

"It is to destroy what Arsenal are doing and that makes it harder for them to create chances. They are ready to challenge for the title and could be the closest challengers. But you almost have to be 10 points ahead of City at Christmas because they come on so strongly in the spring."

Arsenal next face French side Lens in the Champions League hoping to book their place in the knockout stages with at least a draw. The Gunners will then welcome Wolves to the Emirates and look consolidate their lead the top of the table before a first trip to Luton since 1992.

Nathan Ridley