Arsenal issued with stark warning in Premier League title race that fans won't like
Having played second fiddle to Manchester City now for two years on the bounce, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have their eyes on the crown this year – but things might not end up going their way
by Ben Crawford · The MirrorIt could be a case of one step forwards, two steps backwards for Arsenal in the Premier League title race, according Jamie Carragher.
Mikel Arteta’s side have come on leaps and bounds under the Spaniard's stewardship. Having finished five points adrift of champions Manchester City two years ago, and then just two points behind last time out, the expectation this term was that they’d push on and finally get their title bid over the line.
However, the opposite has occurred so far. Though it is relatively early on in the campaign, the Gunners sit some way off the pace, nine points off leaders Liverpool. Losses against Bournemouth and Newcastle, sandwiching a draw against Liverpool, have seen them lose ground on the Reds, while a 1-1 stalemate against London rivals Chelsea didn't help much either.
Sky Sports pundit Carragher has likened Arsenal’s situation to one he once experienced at Anfield, warning Arteta’s men that they may take a step backwards this season rather than a shunt forward.
“[Arsenal] reminds me of what happened when I was at Liverpool,“ Carragher began, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
“You’d have a season where you come second, have a really good points total, and everyone automatically thinks the next thing is to do that [finish first]. One season under Gérard Houllier we lost out to Arsenal for the league, and the next season we finished fourth or fifth.”
Carragher recollects the 2001/02 season, when Arsenal pipped the Reds to the league title by seven points, despite the FA Cup and UEFA Cup wins on Merseyside. The following campaign, they would finish miles adrift in fifth, with rivals Manchester United taking the title.
“Then, with Rafa Benítez, we chased Man United all season, only lost twice, and you think the next step is to win it – but we finished fifth,” Carragher continued, recalling the 2008/2009 season when his side finished just four points behind champions United.
“It [winning the league] doesn’t naturally happen just because Arsenal finished second,” Carragher concluded. “Sometimes, it can go the other way.”
After the international break, Arteta’s side welcome high-flying Nottingham Forest – who are currently level on points with the Gunners – to the Emirates, before a visit to West Ham. They then host Manchester United.
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