Jamie Carragher names one thing Arsenal must do to beat Man City in Premier League title race

Jamie Carragher has said Arsenal may have to take four points off Manchester City this season if they’re to beat them to top spot in the Premier League.

The Gunners currently lead Pep Guardiola’s men by five points in the table following City’s 1-0 win over Chelsea on Thursday night. But the Premier League’s top two are yet to face each other due to postponements in the first half of the campaign, with two massive six-pointers still to be contested over the coming months.

Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of City’s clash at Stamford Bridge, Carragher claimed that double header could prove pivotal in the race for the title.

“Yeah I think most people will [have City as favourites],” opined the former Liverpool defender. “But watching Arsenal the other night [against Newcastle United], I just thought they needed to relax.

“There’s so long to go in the season - and you talk about Man City can win so many games in a row, that’s what Arsenal have virtually done in the last two or three months before the World Cup. I think Arsenal have dropped points in three games, that is some going.

“I think a lot of it will come down to the two games against Manchester City,” he added. “If Arsenal want to win the title they’ll have to take four points off City, I would expect, and I think that would put them in a great position.

“But I think Arsenal have been absolutely fantastic. They don’t need to worry that they’ve dropped two points, that’s going to happen. Man City’s last three home [league] games, I think they drew with Everton, lost to Brentford and scored a last-minute goal against Fulham. You can drop points at home and Arsenal lost points against the best defensive team in the league. There’s no need to panic whatsoever.”

Carragher also claimed City’s cup exploits could impact their league campaign, with the Blues still involved in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League. The 44-year-old said fixture congestion and City’s ‘obsession’ with winning a European crown could negatively affect their league form.

“I think that’s the only way I see Arsenal coming out on top and winning the league, in that City have that many games and so few free midweeks,” claimed Carragher.

“We know there’s an obsession with Manchester City about winning the Champions League, and understandably so. I think we’d all agree that over the last three or four years they have been the best team in Europe, but haven’t won the Champions League.

“It’s a big thing for those players and the only thing missing off their CVs, even Guardiola coming away from Barcelona. It is a huge thing for them as a football club, there’s no doubt. That could play into the hands of Arsenal. But this is a team used to playing games, used to getting to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup or Champions League. They will be there again, there’s no doubt about that.”