Jamie Carragher has named Manchester City as Arsenal's biggest rival for the Premier League title this season, despite Chelsea's impressive start under Xabi Alonso.
Arsenal's bright start and rivals' stumbles
The Gunners clinched their first league title since 2004 last season, finishing seven points ahead of Manchester City. Mikel Arteta's side began their title defence with a 3-0 win over newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday night.
Over the weekend, several of Arsenal's possible title rivals faltered. Liverpool dropped points, Manchester City survived a scare, and Manchester United lost.
Carragher's assessment of Chelsea and Man City
Chelsea, tipped as possible dark horses under Xabi Alonso, started their campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win over Fulham. Brazil striker Joao Pedro, £117m summer signing Morgan Rogers, and England playmaker Cole Palmer all scored.
Carragher said there were 'things to really like' about Chelsea's performance but still views Manchester City as Arsenal's biggest rival. He almost predicted Chelsea to finish second behind Arsenal but believes City are the 'better team' even after the departures of Pep Guardiola and Rodri.
Carragher said on Sky Sports: 'A few weeks ago I had it in my mind that Man City had a chance [to win the Premier League]. I just thought maybe Arsenal would be thinking more about the Champions League after coming so close last season and Man City would be desperate to get the title back. But I changed my mind after Rodri left. I just can't see Manchester City winning the Premier League this season without Rodri.'
'Having said that Man City are a better team than Chelsea. Not playing in Europe could be a factor and play a huge part for Chelsea and give them a big lift, we've seen that before with other teams. But I would just go for Man City right now [to finish second behind Arsenal].'
Concerns over Chelsea's goalkeeper
On Chelsea's win over Fulham, Carragher added: 'There were things to really like. On paper, that front three is sensational. It really is. It looked it in the game. Joao Pedro is fantastic, what a start for Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer was brilliant. When you think about that front three, it's as good as anything in the Premier League right now. But I do have concerns defensively. They conceded a couple of goals and you look at the goalkeeper… They have to sort the goalkeeper issue out because it's going to come back to haunt them this season, as it did tonight.'
'Chelsea will never win the league with Sanchez in goal. It's impossible. You just need to think about the teams who've won the title recently. Last three teams who won the title have all changed the goalkeeper. Pep Guardiola bringing in Ederson. Alisson comes in for Liverpool. Arsenal don't win the league if they have Aaron Ramsdale in goal, not David Raya. Impossible. So, one of the biggest reasons why Arsenal won the league, actually, was Raya, they wouldn't have won the league without them. You can go back to history.'
Gary Neville also believes Chelsea's title chances will be severely hampered unless Alonso signs a new goalkeeper. He said: 'Alonso's been brought in as the manager of the football club, not as the coach. And when you're managing a football club, and I know from the manager that I played under, you have to make some pretty brutal and ruthless decisions. They're strengthening every single position, in the forward areas, they brought brilliant players in, experience in midfield, they've got defenders that have come in. You cannot take a chance with goalkeeper. I said before, it's the most difficult position on the pitch. It's the one that carries the most scrutiny. It's the one that if you have got a goalkeeper that's making mistakes and he's anxious, it will undermine everything that you're trying to do. And I think in the next seven or eight days, Alonso may have to just make a decision that he needs to bring in an experienced goalkeeper, because his job is to be successful for Chelsea. It may be that he sticks with Robert Sanchez, but I think he has to protect himself.'
