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Jamie Carragher has piled the pressure on Arsenal, with the former Liverpool defender suggesting this weekend could be pivotal as Mikel Arteta’s side looks to end its long wait for a Premier League title.
The Gunners are now the overwhelming favorites to be crowned champions for the first time since 2004, having built a five-point lead at the top of the table as the halfway point of the season approaches.
Liverpool already looks to be well out of the picture, having fallen 11 points off the pace, while Manchester City has already lost four games this season, leaving Arteta and his men to stride further and further away at the summit.
The expectation that this will be their year brings its own pressure though, and Carragher has turned the heat up ahead of the latest round of fixtures - Arsenal travels to an in-form Aston Villa on Saturday, while City hosts Sunderland.
"Early as we are in this season, this weekend feels significant,” Carregher wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
“It would be a travesty if Arsenal ended it only two or three points ahead of City, yet it would not be such a shock given their respective fixtures.
“Arsenal’s trip to in-form Aston Villa is tough, especially with City facing a winnable home game against Sunderland.
“A point at Villa Park would be decent given the turnaround led by Unai Emery. But because of the ache to win their first Premier League since 2004, there is a danger it would not be received as such by worried Arsenal fans.”
Carragher also sent a reminder to the Gunners about their failure to catch Liverpool last season - Arteta’s side ultimately finished 10 points behind the Reds, with 14 draws proving costly despite losing the same amount of games as the eventual champions.
“Despite their 10 victories, Arsenal have beaten only two sides in the current top nine. They will not lose many Premier League games this season, but have been stung before by drawing too many,” Carragher said.
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“A year ago, Arsenal dropped eight points across eight games between December 8 and January 18. It left them nine points adrift of Liverpool after 22 fixtures, playing catch-up and unable to recover, even though they had lost only twice up to that point. Those scars must still heal.”
Carragher added: “Would the Emirates be a scene of confidence and serenity if City are breathing down their neck in April? Arteta has been trying to preach the importance of an atmosphere inspiring rather than suffocating his players since he took over. He was at it again before the visit of Brentford in midweek.
“He knows there is an opportunity right now for his side to gallop into an unassailable lead early in 2026, and we are in the heart of a defining period.
“There was a feeling in the past couple of years that the Arsenal players, coaching staff and fanbase has a habit of using too much emotional energy too soon. Too often it feels like the title run-in starts from August, every setback received in the context that anything less than 90 points could be fatal to title hopes.
“When big wins have come, there have been ecstatic scenes involving senior players which have been more in common with sides sealing title-defining victories. All of them proved premature.
“It was never a case of being the “celebration police” to wag a finger at people savouring the moment. Supporters should embrace every three points as the most important yet. However, players and staff need to remain composed and move on to the next game.
“The alternative might drain energy too soon – something Arsenal have been accused of over the last three years. They just need to keep doing their stuff, not getting too high after a win or too down after a setback. This should be their time.”
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