Jamie Carragher delivers Premier League title verdict as Arsenal sent clear warning

View 2 Images

Jamie Carragher reckons Manchester City striker Erling Haaland poses the biggest threat to Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions. The Gunners currently lead the table after eight matches, sitting four points clear of Liverpool and three ahead of City.

Mikel Arteta's side have taken advantage of Liverpool's poor form, with the Reds suffering three consecutive defeats. Despite Liverpool's mammoth £450million summer spending spree – which saw Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Alexander Isak arrive – Carragher believes City represent the more serious challenge to Arsenal's title bid.

In his Telegraph column, Carragher wrote: " Arsenal came into this season worried about Liverpool being the major obstacle to ending a 21-year title wait. Now their biggest fear might be Erling Haaland.

"Where Arsenal have the best squad amongst the contenders and Liverpool must fix well-documented issues, Manchester City have the most influential player and dynamic attacker.

"The Norwegian is the biggest reason why Pep Guardiola's side have a great chance of reclaiming their crown. Without him, City's most realistic target would be finishing in the top four.

"I stand by my claim that Haaland is already the greatest goalscorer we have ever seen in England."

The Norway international has netted in 12 straight matches for club and country, matching a record previously set by Cristiano Ronaldo during his Real Madrid spell – first in the 2014/15 campaign and again in April 2018. Haaland has already bagged 11 goals in just eight Premier League appearances this season.

"When a title-challenging side looks so dependent on one footballer, usually that is a source for concern," Carragher added. "Guardiola will feel blessed. Haaland is so good he can be the difference every time he plays.

View 2 Images

"He is the most lethal finisher of this generation, which is why he is already worthy of comparison with past legends."

The Anfield legend went on to suggest Haaland deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Thierry Henry and Ian Rush, pointing to his remarkable scoring record as the catalyst behind City's trophy-laden success.

He said: "That is why in the pantheon of the greats, the likes of Henry and Ian Rush – who are revered as part of legendary teams – can argue their goalscoring records carried more weight, albeit Henry was a much different profile of attacker to the others."