Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal are still “the team to stop” when it comes to the Premier League title this year - but warned that the Gunners cannot afford to drop too many points amid Manchester City‘s strong start.

Mikel Arteta’s side ended Arsenal’s long wait for the league title last term, lifting the Premier League for the first time in over two decades.

After many years of challenging for the title, Arsenal got over the line thanks to their solid defensive approach, but Carragher pointed out the Gunners’ lack of attacking stars.

In the summer Arsenal tried to raid the Spanish capital for a superstar - Vinicius Junior flirted with the Gunners before signing a new contract with Real Madrid, while wantaway striker Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid hoped for a move to Barcelona, not the Emirates.

Arsenal edged past Nottingham Forest on Sunday to maintain a gap of three points to league leaders Manchester City, winning 1-0 with just one shot on target.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Liverpool defender stated: “We’ve said before that Arsenal are not the most exciting champions we’ve ever seen.

“They still lack stardust in the final third and didn’t get that superstar over the line that they wanted in the summer.

“There was talk of Vinicius Junior coming in obviously and Julian Alvarez but they didn’t get those deals done. They do lack star power in the final third and we saw more evidence of that on Sunday.

“Some people will also say that Mikel Arteta has still got the reins on and is stopping them from showing their absolute best going forward because they value the defence so much.”

Despite criticism of Arsenal’s attacking ability, Carragher reiterated that he still felt the Gunners have the best squad in the league, and as such, the best chance of winning the Premier League for a second season in a row.

“But they’ve got the best squad in the country and the best starting line-up, I don’t think anyone can go up against that really except maybe Man City,” Carragher added.

“We said all of this last year as well, they didn’t have a game-changer but what they had is two top-quality players in every position.

“I still see Arsenal as the team to stop. If they dropped more points on Sunday they could have been five behind Man City.”

Arsenal found it tough against Nottingham Forest

PA

With City’s punishment currently unknown - with point deductions and expulsion rumoured - Carragher feels that title race predictions have to be based on the current league table.

He continued: “We obviously don’t know what’s going to happen with City, we have to take it as it is right now.

“Arsenal would have been a bit worried about being five points behind someone like Man City and dropping points in quick succession but they got the win.”