According to a report by the London Evening Standard on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal remain the strongest contenders in the Premier League title race, despite concerns about their attacking performances following their narrow 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

The former Liverpool defender praised the depth of Mikel Arteta’s squad, arguing that the Gunners have sufficient quality across the pitch to compete for the title. However, he identified Manchester City as their biggest threat as the battle for the Premier League crown continues.

Carragher raised concerns about Arsenal’s attacking output, suggesting that the club missed opportunities to strengthen their forward line during the summer transfer window. He believes the team still needs more creativity and individual brilliance in the final third to become a more entertaining attacking force.

“We’ve said before that Arsenal are not the most exciting champions we’ve ever seen,” Carragher said, as reported by the newspaper.

Arsenal were reportedly interested in signing high-profile attackers Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez before the transfer window closed, but neither player arrived at the Emirates Stadium.

Carragher also questioned whether Arteta’s emphasis on defensive organisation sometimes limits his team’s attacking freedom. While Arsenal have demonstrated considerable defensive discipline, the pundit believes a more adventurous approach could help them create additional opportunities and improve their performances in the final third.

Despite these concerns, Carragher remains confident in Arsenal’s ability to sustain a title challenge. He highlighted the club’s squad depth, noting that Arteta has quality alternatives in almost every position, giving the team greater flexibility to cope with injuries and demanding fixtures.

The pundit added that Arsenal faced similar criticism last season, yet their overall quality continued to make them difficult opponents. He believes their strength throughout the squad could ultimately prove more important than whether they consistently produce spectacular attacking football.

Carragher also stressed the importance of Arsenal’s recent victory over Nottingham Forest. Losing points in that encounter could have left the Gunners five points behind Manchester City, potentially increasing the pressure on Arteta and his players.

The ongoing financial charges case involving Manchester City has also created uncertainty surrounding the wider title race. However, Carragher acknowledged that its eventual outcome remains unknown and maintained that the current league standings should form the basis of his assessment.

Arsenal’s victory over Forest kept them three points behind the league leaders, leaving them well positioned to continue challenging for the title.

Carragher’s assessment suggests that, despite questions about their attacking quality, Arsenal’s depth, defensive organisation and overall squad strength could give them a significant advantage as the Premier League season progresses.