Arsenal must learn from Tottenham mistakes and buy in January, says Jamie Carragher

Arsenal must learn from the mistakes of their north London rivals Tottenham if they are to win the Premier League this season, according to Jamie Carragher.

The Gunners enjoy a five-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City at the top of the table ahead of the league’s Boxing Day restart, when they take on West Ham in the final game.

Although it is clear that Mikel Arteta’s side have a good chance of winning their first league title since Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ in 2004, the knee injury suffered by striker Gabriel Jesus while playing for Brazil in the World Cup threatens to derail your bet.

Mikel Arteta (R) and Arsenal must strengthen in January if they are to stay at the top of the Premier League in the second half of the season, says Jamie Carragher (L)

The Gunners have a five point lead at the top after enjoying an excellent start to the season

But the injury suffered by Gabriel Jesús during the World Cup threatens to derail his title bid.

Carragher believes Arsenal must strengthen during the January window to make up for the Brazilian’s absence, otherwise their strongest title shot in years may slip by.

He drew parallels with Tottenham under Harry Redknapp in the 2011-12 campaign and Mauricio Pochettino in 2015-16 as a warning of how title dreams can fade without the January investment.

“Arsenal should learn from the mistakes their north London rivals made when they were in a similar position,” Carragher wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

Both Tottenham teams had strong chances of winning the league at this point in the season.

Carragher drew parallels with Tottenham squandering their previous title shot under Mauricio Pochettino in 2015-16 because chairman Daniel Levy didn’t spend in January.

Carragher believes Arsenal can live to regret not buying new players in the January window

‘In January 2012 and 2016, Spurs were real contenders, one quality signing away from continuing their momentum.

Redknapp’s side fell to finish fourth well behind Manchester City, but Pochettino would have edged past Leicester City in the Premier League with more boardroom backing.

‘Daniel Levy favored the long term over the here and now and Spurs took solace in the thought that even if they lost to Claudio Ranieri, other title bids would follow.

‘The reality is that, as a club, they blew their best chance in decades to be champions.

Jesús underwent knee surgery and is now set for an extended stint on the sidelines.

“Although their long-term planning has gotten them this far, Arsenal will not want to look back with similar ‘if only’ feelings six months from now.”

Arsenal will extend their lead to eight points if they beat West Ham on Boxing Day, and City won’t play again until they travel to Leeds on December 28.

Arteta said on Thursday the Gunners would be ‘active’ in the January transfer window after losing Jesus, who has scored five goals and provided six assists in the Premier League so far.

“For sure it will take some time,” Arteta said of the striker.

Arteta has admitted that it could take his striker a while to get back to full fitness.

Jesus has scored five Premier League goals and assisted six others since joining Arsenal.

He has had surgery and that tells you the extent of the injury, so we will be in the market, always active and we will evaluate the greatest opportunities that we have.

‘We are going to be active and active means that we seek to strengthen the team.

‘This squadron still can’t afford not to maximize every window. We have to do that because it’s very important, but then we have to get the right profile.

“He has to be the right player to take us to the next level.”