Carragher upsets Arsenal fans over why they won’t win league as he backs VAR

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher reckons Arsenal's deficiencies at striker and in goal will cost them the Premier League title this season.

The Gunners fell to their first defeat of the Premier League season on Tyneside, losing 1-0 to Newcastle United in a game marred by controversy. Both Arsenal's Kai Havertz, and Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes were lucky to not be sent off, while the Magpies goal had to be checked three times by VAR for a potential infringement.

The build-up to the goal, which was scored by Anthony Gordon, was initially checked to see if Joe Willock had kept the ball in play. The second potential infringement came when VAR looked to see if Joelinton had fouled Gabriel from clearing Willock's cross, which was missed by keeper David Raya. And then the third came when VAR looked at a potential offside on Gordon.

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All three checks went in Newcastle's favour, with the officials deeming the potential infringements fine. Arsenal have since released a statement backing manager Mikel Arteta's assessment of the "embarrassing" officiating. However, Raya caught some heat for his poor handling of Willock's cross. And at the other end of the pitch, Arsenal could only muster one shot on target from Gabriel Martinelli, which Nick Pope dealt with easily.

And speaking after the Saturday night clash at St. James' Park, Carragher explained why he believes Arsenal cannot win the Premier League with their current options in net and up front.

"I feel like I'm watching a different team. They're more solid, almost stronger defensively, they're not as fluid, they're not creating as many chances," began Carragher. "But when you're talking about centre-forward, have Arsenal got a centre-forward or and a goalkeeper that can win the league?

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"I'm not sure they have. I don't think they have. And when you think of vital positions, where teams win leagues in both boxes, right now, I've said this before, it wasn't a mistake looking to replace Ramsdale, for me, Ramsdale was not going to win you the league. But the guy he's chosen, right now to come in, Raya, is absolutely all over the place."

Carragher then also defended VAR, which came under scrutiny following the three on-field checks for Newcastle's goal. He added: "People will be criticising VAR because they’re checking three different things so how can they give the goal

"The thing I’d say is once VAR have came in, people are very angry and claiming that they’re looking for things to try and disallow goals. If you then complain about this situation, then you can’t have the argument both ways because here, they’ve actually found a way to give the goal, there’s not enough evidence to turn it around.

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"I actually like that if there’s not enough evidence to disallow a goal, I think it’s good. Whether there’s not the right camera angle, whatever, I think it should be given as a goal. I understand Arsenal fans being frustrated, but that’s how it is."

And then ahead of Liverpool's Sunday afternoon clash against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, Carragher chimed in again with his two cents, criticising Arsenal's decision to release a statement following their defeat. "I'm still scratching my head about what Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are unhappy about with that goal. What part of it?" Carragher said on Sky Sports.

"Put yourself in Howard Webb's position or VAR, they can't conclusively know whether that ball was in or out and the on-field decision was that they have to carry on with that.

"The ball comes in the box, is there a foul? It's probably a 50/50, but it's not a terrible decision but it can go either way. And me being a centre-back, I'd look at Gabriel and say, you know what mate, you should have been stronger. Head that away."

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