Jamie Carragher has revealed how he thinks Arsenal are likely feeling and ought to be feeling after Manchester City’s victory over Liverpool on Sunday.
It was a bad weekend for the Gunners, who dropped two points away at Sunderland courtesy of a 94th minute equaliser from Brian Brobbey.
City then strolled past Liverpool in a convincing manner the following day, reducing the gap between Pep Guardiola’s side and Mikel Arteta’s men to just four points.
Arsenal are now under pressure for the first time in several weeks, after everything had seemed serene around the Emirates.
Jamie Carragher says Arsenal will be having ‘flash backs’ about Manchester City
In the 2022/23 season, Arsenal had a five-point lead over Manchester City in January, and ultimately let this deficit slip.
The following campaign, the Gunners were pushed right until the end of the season by the Sky Blue outfit, accumulating 89 points and still not winning the title.
While Arsenal are still being backed to win the Premier League this term, City’s rampant victory over Liverpool will certainly be cause for concern for Arteta.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher claimed that past experience will have Arsenal ‘getting a few flash backs’, and that the Gunners will likely be feeling ‘nervous’.
“I think Arsenal will be nervous because of, it’s Man City, and they’ve done this to them twice before,” he said.
“Twice in the last three years, Manchester City have come from behind and caught Arsenal. Also the manner of the victory today.
“That first half performance from City was a bit like ‘ooh’. They’re playing Liverpool, Liverpool are the Champions. They absolutely took them to the cleaners.
“I think on the back of Arsenal dropping points against a promoted team who are doing absolutely fantastically well in the Premier League, Sunderland. They’ll have been hoping for a draw, but having seen City’s, not just win, but performance, and probably be getting a few flash backs of what’s happened at times when they’ve felt they’ve had a great chance at the title.
“It might be a long two weeks, worrying about Manchester City.”
Arsenal are still better than Manchester City
Where Carragher’s point doesn’t quite stand up to the scrutiny is that Arsenal are comfortably a better team than City right now.
This hasn’t been the case in previous title races between the two teams, with City normally having the edge over the North Londoners.
| Statistical Comparison 2025/26 (Premier League Only) | ||
| Stat | Arsenal | Man City |
| Goals Scored | 20 | 23 |
| Goals Conceded | 5 | 8 |
| Expected Goals For | 18.8 | 19.4 |
| Expected Goals Against | 6 | 10.3 |
| Expected Goal Difference | +12.8 | +9.1 |
| Possession | 58.5% | 56.5% |
| Shots For per 90 | 14.5 | 13.7 |
| Shots Conceded per 90 | 7.36 | 9.09 |
| Touches in Opposition Box per 90 | 32.2 | 29 |
| Opposition Touches in Own Box per 90 | 14.1 | 20.3 |
The data in the table above reflects this, while the eye test also indicates that Arsenal are better than Guardiola’s side in many different aspects of the game.
While City’s attack functioning is inherently reliant on one individual performing and remaining fit, their defence is still noticeably more vulnerable than the Gunners’ imperious stability at the back.
Arsenal simply cannot be breached centrally, while City can be carved through in the midfield, particularly when Rodri isn’t playing.
Arteta will be insistent on telling his players that they are better than City, and this could give them the psychological edge in the race.
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