Jamie Carragher has urged Arsenal not to panic after dropping points against Newcastle - and insists that Manchester City's "obsession" with the Champions League could open the door for the Gunners to pip them to the Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta's side have been the surprise package of the season and headed into 2023 with a significant lead over the reigning champions. Manchester City could cut the gap at the summit of the standings to five points if they beat Chelsea, however, after Arsenal were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Newcastle on Tuesday night.
But Carragher believes that Arsenal need to "relax" - as they have already proven that they can go on long winning runs like Manchester City this season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: “Watching Arsenal the other night, I just felt they needed to relax. There so long to go in the season and when you're talking about Man City can win so many games in a row, that's what Arsenal have virtually done in the last sort of two or three months before the World Cup. I think they’ve only dropped points in three games, that is some going.
"I think a lot of it will come down to the two games against Manchester City. If Arsenal want to win the title, they have to take four points off Manchester City I'd expect, and that would put them in a great position. But I think Arsenal have been absolutely fantastic; they don't need to worry because they dropped two points. That's going to happen.
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"Man City's last three home games, I think they drew with Everton, lost to Brentford and scored a last minute goal against Fulham, I think. You can drop points at home and Arsenal dropped points against the best defence in the league right now, so there's no need to panic."
Carragher also believes that Manchester City's bloated schedule could play into Arsenal's hands as the title race progresses over the next few months.
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Mikel Arteta was less than impressed after Arsenal dropping points in the title race (Justin Setterfield/Getty)City are still involved in the Champions League and have a packed schedule - and Carragher admits he wouldn't be surprised if City's focus naturally turns towards the one major trophy that has eluded them during Guardiola's tenure.
He added: "It [City's packed schedule] is the only way I see Arsenal coming out on top in terms of winning the Premier League, in that City have that many games and so few free midweeks. We know there’s an obsession at Manchester City with winning the Champions League. Understandably so, I think we'd all agree over the last three or four years they have been the best team in Europe: they just haven't won the Champions League.
"It's a big thing for those players, it's the only thing thats missing off their CV's. Even Pep Guardiola, coming from Barcelona where he won it twice. It is a huge thing for them as a football club, there's no doubt.
"That could play into the hands of Arsenal, but listen, we're talking about a team who are used to playing games, a team who are used to going to the Carabao Cup final, the Champions League semi-final, final. They will be there again, there's no doubt about that."
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