Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal could see the Premier League title slip from their grasp
10:44, 17 Feb 2026Updated 10:46, 17 Feb 2026
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher doesn’t feel that Arsenal have any supertars in the final third.(Image: The Overlap)
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal’s ‘lack of superstars’ in the final third could cost them the Premier League title despite currently being four points clear of Manchester City. The former Reds defender gave a brutal verdict of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, claiming the duo have failed to hit the heights expected of them at the Emirates Stadium
Though Carragher has no doubt about the Gunners’ mental fortitude, he feels Mikel Arteta’s side lack quality in the final third, despite scoring the second most goals in the Premier League this season. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are Arsenal’zs nearest title rivals and currently four points adrift of the Gunners in second place.
Speaking on The Overlap, Carragher said: “I made a comment about Arsenal about a month ago on the back of picking my Premier League team of the season so far.
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“People talk about their mentality – I actually think Arsenal have a great mentality. But their problem could be a lack of quality in the final third.
“When I watch Arsenal, I don’t think they’ve got an absolute superstar in the front four or five players. I thought Saka and Odegaard were going to get there a couple of years ago.
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“I thought they were ready to almost become the best players in the Premier League. I still don’t think Arsenal have got one of them.
“So people talk about mentality with Arsenal, but what I think could actually stop them [in the title race] is actually quality.
“I think we would all agree that Arsenal are the best team this season, but Man City have been there before, even if it’s not a vintage City.”
Bukayo Saka before an Arsenal game(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Both Saka and Odegaard have suffered injuries this season, resulting in stop-start campaigns.
The England international suffered a hamstring injury earlier this season in the 5-1 demolition job of Leeds United back in August.
He’d miss five of Arsenal’s following games with the muscle problem, then suffered another setback, injuring his hip in the warm-up ahead of the Gunners’ 4-0 win over the Whites in the reverse fixture at Elland Road.
Midfield playmaker Odegaard has also struggled with injuries this season. The Norway international had to contend with shoulder problems earlier in the campaign before picking up an MCL injury in the 2-0 win over West Ham United in October.
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It meant he’d become the first player in Premier League history to be replaced before half-time in three consecutive starts.
Odegaard has managed just one Premier League goal so far this season, while Saka has mustered just four top-flight strikes this term.
The Gunners are back in Premier League action on Wednesday and can restore their lead over Man City to seven points if they beat relegation strugglers Wolves at Molineux.
Arteta’s men then travel to Tottenham for the north London derby this weekend in what will be Igor Tudor’s first game in charge of Spurs.
