Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal have a significant advantage over Liverpool in the Premier League title race, and it isn’t the existing points difference.
Arsenal strolled to a 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday evening, courtesy of Leandro Trossard’s tap-in at the back post from a corner.
Meanwhile, Liverpool slumped to a fourth straight defeat on Sunday, losing at home to Manchester United, thanks to Harry Maguire’s late header.
The Gunners now sit four points ahead of the Merseysiders, and three ahead of Manchester City, in the race for the Premier League title.
Jamie Carragher says change in style in Premier League suits Arsenal
Arsenal didn’t concede a shot on target against Fulham on Saturday.
This was the second consecutive league game in which they haven’t allowed their opponent an effort that’s reached their goal, and this is the first time they’ve managed this feat since the 2003/04 season.
Not only has Mikel Arteta built an imperious team defensively, but he’s also created a side that is monstrous from set-pieces.
Trossard’s goal from a corner was the difference at Craven Cottage, and Arsenal have now scored 50 goals from corners in the Premier League since the beginning of the 2022/23 season – more than any other club.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, former Liverpool defender Carragher revealed his belief that the Gunners have an advantage over Arne Slot’s team because they’re well-suited to the current iteration of the English top flight, which is focused on set-pieces at the moment.
“I think Arsenal right now look the best-equipped team to win the title in terms of the way the league is now,” Carragher said.
“It feels like a lot of set pieces, long throws. Liverpool conceded the goal again [against Manchester United] from a set piece.
“Arsenal look like scoring goals from set pieces. They can defend them as well, and they might be better equipped to win this title in terms of how the Premier League is going, style-wise, from all the teams.”
The Premier League still can’t cope with Arsenal’s set-pieces
Carragher is right; there has been a huge shift in focus across the Premier League towards set-pieces.
Almost every team now has a designated set-piece coach, and there has been a significant increase in the number of long throws this campaign.
Despite sides now spending more time on perfecting their set-piece routines and rituals, they still can’t deal with Arsenal’s threat from dead-ball situations.
Part of this is the brilliance of their set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, although a large part is the talent that the Gunners possess.
Teams can train these situations as much as they want, but it ultimately comes down to who delivers the ball and who is dangerous inside the box. Arsenal have the best corner takers in the world in Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, while Gabriel Magalhaes is arguably the most threatening player in the box from set-pieces on the planet.
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