Carragher identifies ‘biggest reason’ Gunners could fail to beat Man City to PL title

Jamie Carragher insists Man City striker Erling Holland could be the biggest obstacle between Arsenal and the Premier League title this season.

The Gunners beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in a tight affair on Sunday Mikel Arteta’s side are aiming for a vital three points with ex-Eagles man Aberchie Eze.

With Man City losing to Aston Villa on Sunday, Bournemouth are now weaponThe biggest challengers in the Premier League with Andy Arraola four points behind the Gunners. In another place.

Defending champions Liverpool also lost 3-2 at Brentford on Saturday with the Reds, their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, with Arne Slott’s side already seven points clear of Arsenal.

Looking back on the weekend’s action, Carriger said Sky Sports: “That’s the big difference from last season: every time Liverpool dropped points, Arsenal didn’t take advantage.

“We highlighted on Monday Night Football last week that Arsenal won a game when Liverpool lost and they have just done the same thing.

Read: Two of Arsenal’s best Premier League XIs of the season so far

“They’re in a great position. The only thing for Arsenal and the supporters, because they want the Premier League so much and it’s been so long for them, is it feels like such a long wait until May.

“There is still a long way to go and things can go wrong, but right now, I would reiterate, the way the Premier League is this season in terms of long throws, set-pieces, direct play, weapons are the best-equipped team to deal with.”

Carragher was frustrated with Crystal Palace forward Jeremy Pano giving Arsenal a “stupid” free-kick to gift the Premier League leaders a chance to score.

The Liverpool legend added: “Don’t give stupid free-kicks if you come against Arsenal!

“We know the delivery in Gabriel is fantastic. You have someone who is really special to head it up.

“It was a really silly mess from Yerimi Pino on Bokio Saka. You don’t have to challenge there, he’s away from goal, he’s going to put the ball behind.

“And then the delivery from Declan Rice is fantastic. He’s got four giants at the back post but, again, it’s Gabriel and he does a lot to make it difficult for (Ismaila) Sarr.

“That’s what you call a fantastic finish from Eze. Eze didn’t have his best game today and maybe for that, certainly mentally, coming against his former team.”

Carragher believes Arsenal’s dominance at set-pieces puts them in a fantastic position to win the Premier League this season.

He added: “Where the Premier League is at this season now, it feels like we’re talking about set-pieces every weekend, every weekend on Monday Night Football.

“There is no better team in the league and they intend to win and win the Premier League if that is where the league is going.

“I mentioned my own team in the case of Liverpool and it looks like they won’t be able to cope.

“This Arsenal team is built to deal with situations like that, in terms of the back four, the height of the team, the strength they get.

“For a long time, I’ve said that Mikel Arteta is trying to win the Premier League like a Jose Mourinho team… or, as we saw it in the stands today, a George Graham Arsenal team.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. The most important thing is to win and, right now, they look in a great position, certainly after the weekend’s results, to win and win the Premier League.”

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Ahead of Arsenal’s elimination of Crystal Palace on Sunday, Carragher claimed Holland – who has scored 11 goals in nine Premier League matches this season – could be the biggest obstacle to their glory this season.

Carragher explained: “The Gunners have worried Liverpool this season as the biggest obstacle to ending their 21-year title wait. Now their biggest fear could be Holland.

“Whereas Arsenal have the best squad among the contenders and Liverpool have well-documented problems to fix, Manchester City have the most influential players and dynamic attackers.

“The Norwegian is the main reason why Pep Guardiola’s side have a huge chance of reclaiming their crown. Without him, City’s most realistic target would be a top-four finish.”

Fellow pundit Gary Neville insists the Premier League title is now Arsenal’s to win this season after a consistent early season.

Neville said: “They don’t need to do anything spectacular here. Just keep doing your job, keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll win this league.

“It’s yours to win. I’m not saying ‘it’s yours to lose’, that would be the application of pressure… It’s yours to win. It’s your title, Weapons.”

“I’ve never felt so sure before and it’s so early in the season.

“To say that takes me mad for someone with winning experience, but it really is (for Arsenal to win) and it’s not overconfidence for them or putting undue pressure on them.

“He should feel it himself, Arsenal fans should feel it and they should know that this is the moment when Arsenal can come back.”