Jamie Carragher warns Arsenal will NOT win the Premier League because of two players… and insists David Raya has become a ‘big problem’ for Mikel Arteta
Jamie Carragher believes David Raya is a ‘big problem’ for Mikel Arteta and warned Arsenal they will not win the Premier League unless they address their shortcomings in goals and up front.
The Gunners led the title race for most of last season but ultimately failed to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004 as Manchester City sent them to the post.
Arsenal underlined their ambitions this summer by investing a combined £200 million in Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
But Carragher suggested their spending was not enough to turn Arsenal into title winners.
“It wasn’t a mistake in itself to replace Aaron Ramsdale as Ramsdale wouldn’t win you the league,” he told Sky Sports on Sunday.
Jamie Carragher has warned that Arsenal will not win the Premier League unless they address their problems in goal and up front
Sky Sports pundit suggested Arsenal are a ‘different team’ to the one that led the Premier League for most of last season
“But the guy (Raya) he’s picked to come in now is absolutely everywhere.
‘I think bringing in Declan Rice has improved them but they haven’t changed the goalkeeper. They don’t seem as fluid, and it’s not just about the players they brought in.
“Those who played their asses off last season aren’t doing their best this season.”
Aaron Ramsdale was ever-present in the Premier League last season, playing the first four games of the season before losing his place to Raya.
The 28-year-old made a surprise loan move from Brentford this summer and Arteta has previously indicated he would like to rotate the pair throughout the season.
But Carragher believes the signing of Raya has only created a problem for Arsenal, with the Spaniard far from rock solid in goal.
“This is now a huge problem for Mikel Arteta,” he said.
‘This is a huge problem. He made the same mistake (against Newcastle) as he did against Chelsea a few weeks ago.
Carragher believes David Raya has become a ‘big problem’ for Mikel Arteta
Aaron Ramsdale was an ever-present in the Premier League last season, but lost his place to Raya
Arteta has insisted he would be willing to swap the two goalkeepers this season
“He got away with it against Sevilla, but he can’t get away with it here.”
Arsenal have the second-best defense in the Premier League and only four teams have scored more goals in the first 11 games of the season, but Carragher suggested the Gunners lacked the edge in the final third of the pitch.
Arteta’s men had just one shot on target in Saturday’s controversial 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.
Havertz has scored just one goal in 17 appearances in all competitions since joining from Chelsea, while Gabriel Jesus has scored once in seven Premier League appearances and has already missed four games through injuries.
“I feel like I’m watching a different team,” Carragher explained.
‘Defensively they are solid, but not that fluid and they create just as many chances.
‘Do Arsenal have a striker and a goalkeeper who can give you the league? I don’t think they did that. If you think about crucial positions where teams win competitions, it ticks both boxes.”
The defeat at St James’ Park was Arsenal’s first defeat in the Premier League this season and saw the team drop to fourth place, three points behind City.
Kai Havertz has scored just one goal in 17 games in all competitions since joining from Chelsea for £65 million this summer
Gabriel Jesus has scored once in seven Premier League appearances and has already missed four games due to injuries
The reigning Premier League champions went top of the table with a 6-1 defeat to Bournemouth, but Tottenham could move two points clear of them if they beat Chelsea on Monday night.
Arsenal’s defeat at Newcastle was overshadowed by VAR controversy, with Arteta challenging England refereeing standards in his post-match interview.
The Arsenal boss was left fuming after the final whistle at St James’ Park when Anthony Gordon’s decisive goal was allowed to stand, while Bruno Guimaraes dodged punishment for an alleged elbow on Jorginho.
Gordon’s decisive strike went through three separate VAR checks before being allowed to stand, with referee Stuart Attwell and VAR official Andy Madley ruling that Joe Willock had kept the ball in play, Joelinton had not fouled Gabriel and that the goalscorer was offside.
‘How on earth did this goal stand? It’s unbelievable,” he said.
‘I am ashamed. It is an absolute shame that this is allowed. It is not a goal for many reasons.
“It’s so hard to compete at this level. This is nowhere near the (referee) level to describe this as the best competition in the world. I feel sick to be a part of this.”
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, the club said they were supporting their manager after ‘further unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors’. It added that fans, players and managers ‘deserve better’ from the PGMOL.