January 1st 2024.
Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal are missing a world class option in attack, citing Gabriel Martinelli as someone who is 'really struggling' this season.
The Gunners missed the chance to move top of the Premier League on New Year's Eve after a defeat to Fulham, their second defeat in a week after also being beaten at home to West Ham United.
The Arsenal's first-choice front three have scored 20 goals between them, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli all contributing, as well as Martin Odegaard with seven.
However, they have been outscored by the sides around them with Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham all scoring more. Carragher believes this lack of a 'world class' player like Mohamed Salah or Erling Haaland could cost Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
He told Sky Sports: ‘Are they a little bit too organised in attack? When is the last time you remember that front three or Odegaard scoring a worldie, or going on a dribble and doing something that makes us go “wow”.
‘It looks very organised but a little bit too much for me in that way. What Arsenal have is four top players. I have no doubts. The criticism we have of them is they are not world class. And do I believe they can become world class? I think Saka can.
‘In this league, Liverpool won titles because they had Mohamed Salah. City won titles in the past because they had [Sergio] Aguero and now they have Erling Haaland. Is that enough for Arsenal to win a title? Are any of them world class right now to take them to a title? I would say no.’
Carragher also highlighted Martinelli as someone whose form has suffered this season.
‘Out of the front four, he is the one that is really struggling,’ Carragher said. ‘They had [Granit] Xhaka in that position [last season], that fixed eight on the left. Now, it has been [Leandro] Trossard, sometimes Declan Rice. [Kai] Havertz has played there. I don’t think that is helping Martinelli.’
Arsenal will need to find a way to make up for the lack of a world class option in attack if they are to have any chance of competing for the Premier League title this season. Whether that will be a change in their attacking system, or the emergence of a star player, remains to be seen.
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