Jamie Carragher has expressed concerns about Arsenal’s prospects of winning the Premier League title this season, attributing their potential shortcomings to issues with both their goalkeeper and striker. This assessment comes after Arsenal’s first defeat of the season against Newcastle United, which saw them lose 1-0 in a controversial match.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, was highly critical of the decision to allow Anthony Gordon’s winning goal, calling it a “disgrace” and an “embarrassment.” The goal underwent three VAR checks before being confirmed, adding to the drama of the match. Arsenal’s offensive performance in the game was lackluster, with only one shot on target, which Carragher believes is indicative of a less fluid attacking style compared to the previous season.
Carragher specifically pointed out concerns about Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya, and their striker situation. He questioned whether Arsenal has the necessary quality in these key positions to compete for the Premier League title.
The former Liverpool defender highlighted that teams that win the Premier League often have reliable players in both the defensive and offensive areas of the pitch. Carragher acknowledged that replacing Aaron Ramsdale was not a mistake since he wasn’t perceived as a title-winning goalkeeper, but he criticized the current choice, David Raya, for his erratic performances.
While Carragher credited the addition of Declan Rice as an improvement, he remained skeptical about the goalkeeper situation, emphasizing that Arsenal’s attack appears less fluid this season. He also noted that some players who performed exceptionally well in the previous season are not replicating their form in the current campaign.
Carragher emphasized that the recurring issue with Raya is his tendency to stray too far from his goal, leaving him out of position. This has led to goals being conceded and negatively impacting Arsenal’s performance. Carragher likened Raya’s actions to a similar mistake made by the goalkeeper a few weeks ago against Chelsea, asserting that Arsenal was fortunate to escape without punishment on that occasion.
