The Premier League title race is now entering the stage of the season where every opinion feels heavy and every word spoken by a former player becomes a headline and this time it is Jamie Carragher who has stepped forward with a strong view about Arsenal FC and their chances of finally lifting the league trophy and his concern is not about mentality not about structure not about effort but about something he believes is missing in the final third and that something is superstar quality
Carragher speaking on The Overlap made it clear that he actually respects Arsenal’s mentality and believes they have grown stronger mentally compared to previous seasons when critics often said they were too soft under pressure but now he thinks the real issue could be quality in the attacking areas and he specifically mentioned Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard as players he once believed were ready to become the very best in the league but in his view they have not fully reached that absolute elite unstoppable lev
A few years ago many believed Saka was on the path to becoming the most dangerous winger in England defenders double marking him fans rising every time he touched the ball and Ødegaard was seen as the creative brain the captain the leader who could dictate big matches and score important goals from midfield together they represented the new Arsenal the rebuild under Mikel Arteta the symbol of hope after difficult years and there were moments when it truly looked like they were about to dominate the Premier League
But football moves quickly expectations grow faster than development and once a player shows brilliance the world expects magic every single week and that is where the debate now sits because Carragher is not saying Saka and Ødegaard are not good he is questioning whether they are the absolute best in the league the type of players who can carry a team through the final months of a title race when pressure becomes suffocating and margins become tiny
He admitted Arsenal may be the best team this season in terms of structure and consistency but he pointed to Manchester City as a club who have been there before who understand how to close out championships even in seasons when they are not at their vintage best they have experience of delivering under extreme pressure and historically they have had individuals capable of producing something out of nothing when a match feels stuck
For Arsenal the question becomes simple but uncomfortable do they have that player who feels inevitable when the game is tight when chances are few when nerves are high because titles are often decided not by domination but by moments one shot one pass one burst of brilliance and Carragher’s argument suggests he is not convinced Arsenal have that guaranteed match winner in the front four or five positions
Of course injuries have played a part Saka suffered a hamstring problem earlier in the season during that heavy win over Leeds and hamstring injuries can affect sharpness explosiveness and confidence while Ødegaard has also had fitness interruptions that disrupted rhythm and when key attackers miss games it becomes harder to build consistency form is fragile and momentum can disappear quickly
Still the expectation around Arsenal has not reduced they are competing strongly they are organised they defend well they control matches but sometimes control alone does not win championships sometimes chaos is needed sometimes a superstar bends the script and writes a new ending and that is what Carragher seems to feel is slightly missing
The upcoming fixtures now carry even more weight especially tough away trips where space is limited and patience is tested these are the matches where elite players announce themselves where criticism is silenced and reputations are built if Saka drives past defenders and scores a decisive goal or Ødegaard controls tempo and delivers a match winning moment then the narrative changes instantly football opinions can flip in ninety minutes
But if Arsenal dominate possession yet struggle to finish chances the conversation will grow louder and critics will repeat that word quality not mentality not structure but final third quality and the Premier League is unforgiving because even a single draw in April can change everything and that is why discussions like this matter because they highlight the fine margins that separate champions from challengers
Arsenal’s project under Arteta has been about collective strength not reliance on one superstar they press together attack together defend together and that unity has brought them back to the top level but modern title races often require both system and star power and Carragher’s concern is whether Arsenal are slightly heavier on system than individual brilliance
Saka remains feared by defenders opponents often double up on him his dribbling still causes panic his work rate remains elite and Ødegaard continues to lead with intelligence and creativity but the standard at the very top is ruthless being excellent is not the same as being decisive in the biggest moments and that is the difference being debated
Fans will argue that Arsenal do not need a single global icon that football is evolving that collective dominance can win leagues and there is truth in that but history shows that during tense run ins someone usually steps forward someone delivers repeatedly someone carries the weight when legs grow tired and stadiums grow anxious
The pressure now will not only be on the team but specifically on Saka and Ødegaard because once their names are mentioned in this context every performance is examined more closely every missed chance magnified every quiet game criticised but that is the cost of being close to greatness
Carragher’s words are not an attack they are a challenge a suggestion that Arsenal might need just a little more edge just a little more killer instinct in the decisive areas and the coming weeks will reveal whether that edge is already within the squad or whether it is something they must search for in future transfer windows
For now the title race continues Arsenal remain strong contenders Manchester City remain experienced hunters and every match feels like a final and in moments like this reputations are shaped if Saka explodes into unstoppable form if Ødegaard dictates games and scores crucial goals the conversation ends and praise replaces doubt but if Arsenal fall just short again this debate will resurface and many will point back to this moment when the warning was quietly raised
Because in the end championships are not decided in television studios they are decided on grass under pressure in front of thousands of voices and over the next few months Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard will have the opportunity to show whether they are simply excellent players in a strong team or true superstars capable of carrying Arsenal FC all the way to the Premier League crown and until that answer arrives the debate will continue growing louder with every kick of the ball
