Carragher issues new title race prediction amid Arsenal concerns

According to a report by Evening Standard on Tuesday October 20, 2026, Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal remain the team to beat in the Premier League title race despite concerns about their attacking quality and failure to sign two major transfer targets during the summer.

The former Liverpool defender backed Mikel Arteta’s side to defend their crown, insisting that they possess the strongest squad in the country, although he warned that Manchester City’s impressive start could make the competition increasingly difficult.

Arsenal maintained their title challenge with a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. However, their performance raised questions about their attacking threat after they managed just one shot on target.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher argued that Arsenal still lack the star power in the final third needed to make the difference in difficult matches. He pointed to their unsuccessful pursuits of Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez as examples of their failure to secure the attacking superstar they wanted.

“We’ve said before that Arsenal are not the most exciting champions we’ve ever seen. They still lack stardust in the final third and didn’t get that superstar over the line that they wanted in the summer,” he said.

Despite those concerns, Carragher maintained that Arsenal’s squad depth gives them a significant advantage over their rivals. He highlighted the quality available in almost every position, suggesting that their strength extends beyond the starting eleven.

“But they’ve got the best squad in the country and the best starting line-up, I don’t think anyone can go up against that really except maybe Man City,” Carragher added.

The pundit also warned that Arsenal cannot afford to drop too many points, particularly with Manchester City currently setting a strong pace. He suggested that failing to beat Nottingham Forest could have left the Gunners five points behind their title rivals.

Meanwhile, Carragher acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Manchester City’s ongoing financial-rule case but insisted that the title race must be assessed based on the current standings.

Arsenal will hope their defensive organisation and consistency continue to deliver results as the season progresses. However, with City applying pressure, Arteta’s side may need to improve their attacking performances if they are to retain the Premier League title.

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