Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal can wrap up the Premier League title with a win against West Ham next weekend after Manchester City dropped points against Everton on Monday.
The title is now back in the Gunners’ hands after City played out a choatic 3-3 draw with Everton at the Hill Dickinson stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side led through Jeremy Doku’s first-half strike, but mistakes and ill-discipline saw City ship three goals in the space of just 13 minutes as David Moyes’s side ran riot on Merseyside.
Erling Haaland hit back straight from kick-off to reduce the deficit before Doku’s superb strike in added time ensured that the visitors escaped with a point.
But Arsenal are now firmly back in the driving seat to claim their first title in over 20 years, holding a five-point advantage over City, who still have one game more to play than their north London rivals.
The focus for Mikel Arteta’s side will be firmly on Tueday’s massive Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, and the chance to reach their first final in that competition since 2006.
But Carragher believes that Arsenal could have one hand on yet more silverware if they can navigate a potentially awkward trip to East London next weekend when they face relegation-threatened West Ham.
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‘From an Arsenal point of view, tonight is all about the league but I think tomorrow, can you imagine the excitement,’ Carragher said on Sky Sports.
‘Yes, it’s a different competition but the excitement from Arsenal fans, the energy that will be in that stadium. Get to the Champions League final, the league is in you hands with two or three weeks to go.
‘But if Arsenal win that game away [at West Ham] next Sunday, they have won the league. The league is won. They beat West Ham it is on.
Remaining Premier League fixtures
Arsenal (76 points)
West Ham (A) – May 10
Burnley (H) – May 18
Crystal Palace (A) – May 24
Man City (71 points)
Brentford (H) – May 9
Crystal Palace (H) – May 13
Bournemouth (A) – May 19
Aston Villa – May 24
‘They will beat Burnely absolutely no problem at home, I think it’s on West Ham away and the Manchester City need maximum points then to take it to the last day. But I think if they win at West Ham away, the league is won.’
But former Arsenal title-winner Thierry Henry was not as keen to get swept up in emotions after City’s dropped points on Monday.
‘I said earlier that I can see City dropping points at Everton like I’m worried about the West Ham game [for Arsenal] so I’m going to stay in my lane and celebrate too early because nothing is done,’ he said.
‘But I could see that happenning because things can happen at Everton at any moment and I would say that I saw a bit of nervousness with City because they technically brought Everton back into the match with some mistakes.’
Meanwhile, speaking after his side’s dramatic draw, Guardiola told Sky Sports: ‘Really good performance. We played outstanding in the first half. Really, really good. Second half, they made a step up and we maybe weren’t as aggressive and after, of course, we gave away the goal.
‘After they came back, they make a proper English game – so aggressive, so, so aggressive in the duels. But in general, we made a really good performance.’
On what this result does for the title race, the Spaniard added: ‘We take the point and until it’s over, we will continue.
‘It’s better than losing, It shows what type of team they are. It’s not in our hands. Before it was, now it’s not. We have games left. We will see what happens.’
Ciy return to league action next Saturday when they host Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.
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