Jamie Carragher says it’s “crunch time” for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta as they need to start winning big trophies following their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace.
The Gunners put pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea above them to move third in the title race, cutting the gap to Arne Slot’s leaders to just three points. It was an impressive display by Mikel Arteta’s team at Palace, especially in attack.
Arsenal lost key player Bukayo Saka in the first half to injury and still scored five goals.
Carragher has now challenged them to kick-on after Arteta celebrated five years in charge this week, saying: “We are getting to crunch time for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta as a manager.
“He’s done a great job but now is the time to start winning trophies. They’ve been a brilliant team but there’s been lots of brilliant teams in the Premier League era who we remember but they never won a trophy, like Leeds, Newcastle and Tottenham. This team doesn’t want to be remembered like that.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Arsenal’s win against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
“This feels like a really big win. On the back of what has happened in the last couple of games, they have had a favourable run of fixtures so couldn’t afford to drop more points.
They really need to get their season going in terms of stringing some results together and building belief that they can go and win this title.
“Arteta’s five-year anniversary that we are at now, we are starting to reach a real crunch time, they’ve got to start delivering the biggest trophies.
“They will be there or there about come the end of the season. If they don’t win it will feel like disappointment.”
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Mikel Arteta spoke after Arsenal’s 5-1 win against Crystal Palace and was delighted with how dominant and clinical his players were at Selhurst Park.
Redknapp: Arsenal are still short in attack
It was Gabriel Jesus that inspired Arsenal to the thrashing of Crystal Palace.
After his hat-trick sunk the Eagles in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in midweek, Jesus made it five goals in four days against Palace as his first-half brace put the Gunners 2-1 up inside the first 14 minutes.
Despite his return to form, Sky Sports‘ Jamie Redknapp still thinks Arsenal are lacking options.
He said: “Liverpool are the team in great form but we know how quickly form can disappear. What Liverpool have that Arsenal don’t is that firepower off the bench to make a difference. Arsenal are short in that area.
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Oliver Glasner reacted to Crystal Palace’s 5-1 defeat to Arsenal and felt his players gifted the Gunners their goals as they defended their box ‘terribly’ and were punished by the visitors.
“If Saka’s going to be out, do they have someone to fill that void? Gabriel Jesus has got a big part to play but Arsenal still need another forward player to add goals and experience to what they need. They are short of one or two players.
“Arteta will be praying with the scan [on Saka’s injury]. He knows if Arsenal are to win the league they’re going to need him. He’s their best player. He turns up in the big games.
“It’s a season where the top teams will drop points. It’s so hard to win games. You have to earn every point – it’s going to the wire. If Arsenal don’t do it this year, it will feel like a big miss – this is their opportunity. They’ve got in their own way at times, getting men sent off at the wrong time and injuries.”
Analysis: Arsenal look title-race ready
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:
In what felt like a big day in the title race, Arsenal showed their mettle. So do they have what it takes to be right in the mix come May?
Firstly, they have a very good goalkeeper. David Raya showcased why he is a reliable No 1 between the sticks with five big saves and stopping 1.71 worth of expected goals.
Reason two: they are defensively astute. William Saliba and Gabriel did not have the best game at Selhurst Park but if a 5-1 defeat is an off day, it is a positive sign.
They also have the ability to play without Bukayo Saka, who limped off injured in the first half, and still score five goals. A few seasons ago they would have struggled with losing their best player. Saturday showed they have layers in this team. There have been enough positive performances recently to show they are not completely reliant on set-pieces, another key asset in their locker.
There is flexibility too. Kai Havertz operated efficiently as a midfielder, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori could afford to be rested, while Gabriel Martinelli deputised well for Saka down the right. Opponents will be kept guessing.
In fact, Arsenal have shown they can cope with multiple injuries and still keep up. Their left-hand side of defence has been decimated to the point where Myles Lewis-Skelly has emerged as a reliable option. Suspensions and injuries have been regular but Arsenal are still in the race.
It is what separates them from Manchester City, where injuries have made an impact. All these factors could separate them and the rest come May.
