Jamie Carragher has made his Premier League title prediction (Photo: Getty)
Jamie Carragher says Arsenal won’t win the Premier League title until they make two crucial signings which will address Mikel Arteta’s ‘biggest problem’.
Following their 1-0 home win over Ipswich Town, Arsenal have moved up to second in the table but are still six points behind Liverpool who have a game in hand.
With Manchester City floundering and Chelsea still rebuilding under Enzo Maresca, many believe it is a two horse race for the title, with Liverpool the clear favourites.
That is an opinion of Carragher who believes that while the Gunners are better prepared for a title fight, one huge issue means their two-decade wait for a Premier League trophy is set to continue.
‘Arsenal’s biggest problem right now is their injuries. They managed to avoid too much disruption in the last two years but their squad has been stretched this time,’ the Liverpool legend told The Telegraph.
‘Mikel Arteta will find the answers to ensure the team improves in the second half of the season, and they have built valuable experience of a run-in. If they can get to March still close, they will believe.
‘But I am speaking with my head and heart when saying Liverpool will pip them to first place. Arne Slot’s attacking options are the strongest in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are six points behind Liverpool (Photo: Getty)
‘My only worry for Liverpool is if they pick up injuries to their big players. If they can avoid them, they will be difficult to catch.’
As of mid-December, Arsenal had suffered 16 different player injuries, only Brighton and Ipswich had more, with captain Martin Odegaard and Ben White among their notable absentees.
Since then they’ve had more problems, with talisman Bukayo Saka now ruled out for two months after undergoing surgery to deal with a hamstring injury.
Bukayo Saka’s lengthy injury could derail Arsenal’s title bid (Photo: Getty)
Carragher believes this will prove very costly to Arsenal’s title bid due to the team’s lack of attacking depth and has urged Arteta to delve into the transfer market.
The former England defender added: ‘Regardless of whether they miss out this season, Arsenal will need to freshen up in 2025. They are short in attacking areas when compared to Liverpool and Chelsea.
‘Where Slot has five attackers to choose from (when everyone is fit) – and many of them are of a different profile – Arteta has been too reliant on the same players, none more so than Bukayo Saka. Every side would miss a player of his class, but the reaction to Saka’s hamstring injury shows he has carried too much responsibility.
‘Arteta needs at least two more top attacking players. I am not talking about back-ups in the event of injury, but starters who will keep the opposition manager guessing as to what the starting XI will be.’
Arsenal look unlikely to make any signings in January but have been linked with Wolves forward Matheus Cunha who has scored 10 goals and made four assists so far for the struggling team.
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