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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher says Arsenal must win the Premier League title this season because it could be a "now or never" moment for Mikel Arteta after three consecutive runners-up finishes.
The Gunners came second to Manchester City twice before Liverpool overtook the pair in Arne Slot's first campaign at the helm. This summer, Arsenal and its rivals have all spent big in the hope of going one better in 2025/26.
"I think a lot of the talk of the moment is that Liverpool could walk away with the league because of what they've done in the summer," Carragher said on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X ahead of the new season kicking off.
"I don't quite see that, and I actually think the way Liverpool performed Sunday — even though it was only one game — I thought it was a little bit worrying how they performed against Crystal Palace.
"Not so much the result, it was how the actual game went. And it almost looks like they could have almost too many attacking players on the pitch. I think it's going to be interesting how [Arne] Slot fixes that.
"I think for Arsenal, I like the players that he brought in, but I don't think there's an absolute game changer in terms of... maybe upfront, you know, they’re talking the striker (Viktor Gyokeres) coming in.
"It'll be really interesting to see how he does. But I just think with Arsenal, the problem they'll have is not so much whether they're good enough. I think, you know, if they can get back to where they were a couple of years ago, they've got a chance.
"They’ve got [Martin] Zubimendi and then the striker. But I think there’ll be that much pressure on them, even from their own supporters in the stadium, it almost feels like it's now or never.
"I don't see sort of, you know, if Arsenal finished second again, it won't be seen as a decent season. It’ll almost be seen as a disaster. And playing with that pressure for the whole season, I think, is what will make it tough for them."
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Liverpool finished 10 points ahead of Arsenal last season, with the Reds securing the Premier League title with four games to spare. Neither Slot's side nor Arteta's, though, were involved in the summer's Club World Cup.
With Manchester City having been there and Chelsea having gone all the way to the final, the impact on the two sets of players is yet to become clear. Liverpool and Arsenal, however, should be well rested.
Liverpool.com says: Liverpool should be the Premier League title favorite, but these things are never easy. The Reds' roster has changed a lot this summer and it might take some time to gel.
Much could depend on what happens next in the transfer market, though. If Liverpool can sign Alexander Isak and at least one center-back, that would make Slot's team look much more complete.
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