Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal showed too much caution at times during their 5-1 victory over Manchester City on Sunday.
The Gunners took an early lead just 104 seconds into the match, with Martin Odegaard scoring his third goal of the season. However, Carragher felt Arsenal became too passive afterward, only stepping up their intensity after Erling Haaland equalized for City ten minutes into the second half.
Despite finishing the game strongly with goals from Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and substitute Ethan Nwaneri, Carragher expressed concerns about their approach during Monday Night Football on Sky Sports.
He pointed out that Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, seem to adopt a defensive mindset once they take the lead, suggesting that this strategy could backfire in the title race. “They need to change that,” he said. “If they keep playing this way, it could come back to haunt them.”
Sunday’s win extended Arsenal’s lead over City to nine points but still left them trailing Liverpool by six in the title race. While Arsenal’s players and fans celebrated the emphatic victory, Carragher cautioned that their joy could be short-lived if they fail to secure the championship.
He drew a parallel to the 1996-97 season, when Newcastle United famously thrashed Manchester United 5-0 but ultimately finished seven points behind them. “This is a game they will remember for a long time,” he said. “But it will mean much more if they go on to win the title. Otherwise, they risk becoming like Newcastle—celebrating a big win but missing out on the ultimate prize.”