Arsenal sent clear Premier League title race message after Liverpool and Man City stumble

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Jamie Carragher has told Mikel Arteta and Arsenal they will clinch the Premier League if set pieces continue to be so decisive throughout the division. Mikel Arteta's squad took a massive stride towards their first championship since 2004 by defeating Crystal Palace 1-0.

Their gritty victory, which was secured by Eberechi Eze netting a superb scissor kick half volley from a set piece, could prove pivotal. Beyond claiming all three points against Oliver Glasner's team, the outcome arrived at the ideal moment, with Manchester City , Liverpool and Chelsea all suffering defeats to Aston Villa , Brentford and Sunderland respectively.

Observing how Arsenal neutralised Palace whilst converting their own expertly-crafted routine, Carragher believes the ribbons on the Premier League trophy could be red and white, if they continue to be the difference in games.

Speaking on Sky Sports , Carragher said: "Where the Premier League is right now, this season, it feels like we are going to be talking about set pieces a lot. Every weekend and a lot on Monday Night Football .

"There is no team better in the league, so primed, to go on and win the Premier League [than Arsenal], if that's where the league is going. I mentioned my own team in terms of Liverpool, they don't seem to be able to cope.

"This team has been built to cope in situations like this, in terms of the back four, the height of the team, the power that they can get. For a long time, I've said Mikel Arteta is trying to win the Premier League like a Jose Mourinho team.

"But, as we saw in the stands today, like a George Graham, Arsenal team and there is nothing wrong with that. The most important thing is winning.

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"And right now, they are in a great position, certainly after the weekend's results, to go on and win the Premier League."

Previously, Arsenal's focus on them had come under fire from critics. Last season, Gary Neville claimed the Gunners' "obsession" with set pieces made them "rigid" and overly dependent.

When quizzed about set pieces dominating discussion in the early stages of the campaign, plus the fact Arsenal's decisive goal came from a free-kick move, Arteta responded: "Well, in any way it doesn't make any difference how difficult.

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"I think they all have the same value. We are noticing, obviously, a shift. The moment that physicality increases, methods that are implemented are more efficient and the game is more difficult to play.

"You can constrain spaces because physically you are better and you are better at work. You have to find ways to score in different ways and that's what I think everybody is trying to do."

Arsenal welcome Brighton and Hove Albion in the League Cup on Wednesday evening, before making the trip to Burnley on November 1.

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