Jamie Carragher has heaped praise on Gabriel Martinelli following Arsenalâs 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, insisting he took a âchanceâ to âwin them the leagueâ.
Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal after Kai Havertz quickly cancelled out Rayan Cherkiâs stunning opener at the Etihad.
The result means City will draw level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table if they win their game in hand against Burnley on Wednesday, but Carragher was impressed with the fight Mikel Artetaâs side showed on Sunday and reserved special praise for Martinelli.
READ MORE: 16 Conclusions from Man City 2-1 Arsenal: Cherki, Bernardo, Haaland, OâReilly, bottle
The Brazilian came on as a late substitute and very nearly provided the crucial contribution to see Arsenal secure what Carragher insists would have been a title-clinching victory.
Martinelli tackled Marc Guehi in midfield and set up an Arsenal counter-attack which saw Havertz force Gianluigi Donnarumma into a save after being played in on goal by Martin Odegaard.
âKeep an eye on Martinelli, and donât forget the idea at the start of the game is to press high and be aggressive,â Carragher said while analysing the moment on Sky Sportsâ Monday Night Football.
âSo he presses here. That ball is on here to leave [Cristhian] Mosquera in a 2v1. So thatâs the chance you take when you press high.
âBut now he wins the tackle. That tackle leads to Arsenal having a chance at 1-1 to go 2-1 up. And that wins them the league. If that chance here goes in the leagueâs won.
âSo Martinelli has taken the chance to go and win Arsenal the league.â
Carragher now believes that Manchester City are in the driving seat and will overtake Arsenal to clinch the Premier League title.
âI think City have got the edge,â he said.
âI just think momentum, experience, how that will affect Arsenal psychologically⊠not just that game, the run of games that theyâre on, the performances as well.
âThis was definitely a better performance, thereâs no doubt about that.
âI thought it was a brilliant game, it was a testament to both teams, both managers, it felt like a real top-level game.â
READ MORE: Premier League winners and losers: Man City, Arteta, Leeds, Rosenior, Watkins, Howe
On the two teamsâ respective run-ins, Carragher continued: âCity have got the harder fixtures, thereâs no doubt.
âBut when you get to this stage and youâre in Arsenalâs position, just searching for a win from anywhere and the nerves are kicking in, the supporters are getting anxious, their next two games are at home in the Premier League, it almost doesnât matter who you play.
âItâs more about you really. Weâve seen them lose to Bournemouth and most people would have said that was a game they should win.
âNewcastle is the next game and Newcastle are struggling right now, but you canât hang your hat on Arsenal at the moment because this run has gone on now for four or five games in different competitions and they just need to stop it quickly.â
Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal after Kai Havertz quickly cancelled out Rayan Cherkiâs stunning opener at the Etihad.
The result means City will draw level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table if they win their game in hand against Burnley on Wednesday, but Carragher was impressed with the fight Mikel Artetaâs side showed on Sunday and reserved special praise for Martinelli.
READ MORE: 16 Conclusions from Man City 2-1 Arsenal: Cherki, Bernardo, Haaland, OâReilly, bottle
The Brazilian came on as a late substitute and very nearly provided the crucial contribution to see Arsenal secure what Carragher insists would have been a title-clinching victory.
Martinelli tackled Marc Guehi in midfield and set up an Arsenal counter-attack which saw Havertz force Gianluigi Donnarumma into a save after being played in on goal by Martin Odegaard.
âKeep an eye on Martinelli, and donât forget the idea at the start of the game is to press high and be aggressive,â Carragher said while analysing the moment on Sky Sportsâ Monday Night Football.
âSo he presses here. That ball is on here to leave [Cristhian] Mosquera in a 2v1. So thatâs the chance you take when you press high.
âBut now he wins the tackle. That tackle leads to Arsenal having a chance at 1-1 to go 2-1 up. And that wins them the league. If that chance here goes in the leagueâs won.
âSo Martinelli has taken the chance to go and win Arsenal the league.â
Carragher now believes that Manchester City are in the driving seat and will overtake Arsenal to clinch the Premier League title.
âI think City have got the edge,â he said.
âI just think momentum, experience, how that will affect Arsenal psychologically⊠not just that game, the run of games that theyâre on, the performances as well.
âThis was definitely a better performance, thereâs no doubt about that.
âI thought it was a brilliant game, it was a testament to both teams, both managers, it felt like a real top-level game.â
READ MORE: Premier League winners and losers: Man City, Arteta, Leeds, Rosenior, Watkins, Howe
On the two teamsâ respective run-ins, Carragher continued: âCity have got the harder fixtures, thereâs no doubt.
âBut when you get to this stage and youâre in Arsenalâs position, just searching for a win from anywhere and the nerves are kicking in, the supporters are getting anxious, their next two games are at home in the Premier League, it almost doesnât matter who you play.
âItâs more about you really. Weâve seen them lose to Bournemouth and most people would have said that was a game they should win.
âNewcastle is the next game and Newcastle are struggling right now, but you canât hang your hat on Arsenal at the moment because this run has gone on now for four or five games in different competitions and they just need to stop it quickly.â
