Liverpool legend and ex-England defender Jamie Carragher (Picture: Getty)
Jamie Carragher expected Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard to become ‘the best players in the Premier League’ but says Arsenal still lack an ‘absolute superstar’.
Arsenal are challenging for their first league title in 22 years, currently leading second-placed Manchester City by four points with 12 games remaining.
A number of fans and pundits have questioned Arsenal’s ‘mentality’ ahead of the business end of the season, with Mikel Arteta’s side finishing second three years in a row.
Carragher sees no issue with Arsenal’s ‘mentality’ under Arteta, however, and instead believes what could ‘stop’ them from winning the league is a lack of ‘quality’ going forward.
Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal’s top goalscorer so far this season with eight in the Premier League. Almost a dozen players have contributed more goals than Gyokeres, with Man City’s Erling Haaland leading the way on 22.
Liverpool legend Carragher expected Saka and Odegaard to establish themselves as ‘superstars’ a couple of years ago but believes they have stagnated.
England star Saka has four league goals so far this season while Arsenal captain Odegaard only has one goal in 26 games in all competitions.
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Arsenal star Bukayo Saka (Picture: Getty)
‘I made a comment about Arsenal about a month ago on the back of picking my Premier League team of the season so far,’ Carragher said on The Overlap.
‘People talk about their mentality – I actually think Arsenal have great mentality. But there problem could be a lack of quality in the final third.
‘When I watch Arsenal, I don’t think they’ve got an absolute superstar in the front four or five players. I thought Saka and Odegaard were going to get there a few years ago.
‘I thought they were ready to almost become the best players in the Premier League. I still don’t think Arsenal have got one of them.
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‘So people talk about mentality with Arsenal but what I think could actually stop them [in the title race] is actually quality.
‘I think we would all agree that Arsenal are the best team this season but Man City have been there before even if it’s not a vintage City.’
Despite having doubts over Arsenal, ex-England defender Carragher still thinks they will get over the line and become Premier League champions for the first time since 2004.
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, a five-time title winner, also believes Arsenal will see off Manchester City.
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard (Picture: Getty)
‘They have so much quality, Arsenal,’ Rooney added. ‘I don’t think they have that superstar but they can win games and they’ve shown that over the last three years.
‘Arsenal haven’t got an absolutely world-class player, a superstar that they pin everything on, but what we’ve seen is they know how to win games.
‘Of course Man City can still win it. There’s still a third of the season left to go so anything can happen, but I think Arsenal will win it.
‘I think they’re too strong and powerful. I think they win it because of Mikel Arteta, he’s shown the pressure in previous years but he’s handling it spot on this season.
‘Man City will run them close but I just can’t see them winning every game and Arsenal dropping that many points.’
Arsenal dropped points in the title race with a 1-1 draw against Brentford in their last league game, before returning to winning ways in the FA Cup, thumping Wigan Athletic 4-0.
The Gunners face Premier League basement boys Wolves next before a huge north London derby against Tottenham at the weekend.
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