Jamie Carragher has now highlighted the one ‘problem’ he sees at Arsenal that gives Manchester City the edge to defend the Premier League title again through 2024/25.
The Liverpool hero expects Arsenal will fight Manchester City for the trophy again next term. But Carragher is not certain that Mikel Arteta has enough to end the Citizens’ reign of terror on the top-flight. Pep Guardiola guided Man City to a record fourth title in a row this season.
No team had previously ever won more than three titles on the spin in the English top-flight. Huddersfield (1923-1926), Arsenal (1932-35), Liverpool (1981-84) and Manchester United (1998-2001, 06-09) have sealed three-peats. But Manchester City stand alone at the top.
Jamie Carragher fears Arsenal’s attack will be a ‘problem’ in the 24/25 title race
Arsenal, at least, pushed Manchester City to the final day of the 2023/24 season in their title race. But Arteta required help after losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa in April gifted Guardiola control. No team came to the Gunners’ aid as the Citizens went unbeaten after December 6.
Now, Carragher fears Arsenal’s attack might let Arteta down again in next season’s title race. While he feels the north London giants were often the best team in 23/24, they do not have the same firepower Guardiola relishes with Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne.
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“I think they will be up there again,” Carragher told the Metro about Arsenal’s chances. “In some ways, throughout a lot of the season, they were the best team. When you look at the goals they scored, the xG difference and how strong they were defensively.
“The problem [for Arsenal] is that Man City have the best players. They have individuals like Foden, Haaland and De Bruyne. Arsenal just don’t have that quality at that end of the pitch. That’s why they need a top attacking player.”
Arsenal only trailed Manchester City for Premier League goals in 23/24
The Premier League and the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) both named Foden as their 23/24 Player of the Season. He scored 19 of Manchester City’s 96 goals and also assisted eight in 35 matches. Haaland also scored 27 goals to win the Premier League’s Golden Boot.
Only Cole Palmer (22) and Alexander Isak (21) split Haaland and Foden in the scoring charts, too. Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s top scorer in 23/24 with 16 of their 91 goals. He headed Kai Havertz (13), Leandro Trossard (12) and Martin Odegaard (8) for goals at Emirates Stadium.
Yet Saka’s 16 goals only marked 18% of Arsenal’s total, compared to Haaland and Foden at 28% and 20% of Manchester City’s hits in 23/24. But Arteta and Guardiola also relied on the same number of players to score throughout the term with both sides seeing 15 goalscorers.
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