September 1st 2023.
Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal need to “chill out” if they are to challenge for the Premier League title this season. The former Liverpool defender believes that the team’s reactions to wins and losses have been far too extreme. He cites the Arsenal celebrations after their 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace as an example of players, fans, and the manager getting too excited too soon.
Carragher wrote in The Telegraph, “The team is in a good place, but treating so-so performances or early home draws like last week’s against Fulham as a serious title setback is a sure-fire way of self-sabotaging aspirations before the campaign has truly got underway.” He believes that the emotional intensity of the title run-in in March and May cannot be replicated from game one.
Gary Neville had similar sentiments last season when Arsenal’s title challenge fell away. He stated on Sky Sports, “The over-celebrations against Aston Villa [after the 4-2 win in February]. I look at little things that might look a little bit harsh – Zinchenko celebrating an hour after the game with the fans outside and screaming. You want your leaders in the team, who have been there before to spread composure around the dressing room and calm everybody down. You don’t want them to lift the anxiety, lift the emotion.”
Mikel Arteta has come in for criticism in the past for his extreme touchline reactions. As Arsenal have started this campaign with wins over Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, but a draw with Fulham, Carragher and Neville both believe that the team's reactions have been too extreme. They are offering “free advice” to the Gunners, advising them to take a calmer approach if they want to challenge for the Premier League title this season.
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