Jamie Carragher’s new Arsenal verdict says everything about Mikel Arteta’s team

As Arsenal enjoyed another great weekend of Premier League football, frequent critic of the Gunners, Jamie Carragher, had an alternative verdict about Mikel Arteta’s side

Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal will win the Premier League if set pieces continue to have such an important effect on matches this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side took a huge step towards a first title since 2004 by overcoming Crystal Palace 1-0. Their hard fought triumph, which saw Eberechi Eze score the winner with a fine scissor kick half volley from a set piece, could prove to be vital.

As well as securing the three points over Oliver Glasner’s side, the result came at the perfect time, as Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea also lost to Aston Villa, Brentford and Sunderland respectively. Looking at the way Arsenal stifled Palace and scored with their own well-worked routine, Carragher believes the ribbons on the Premier League title could be red and white.

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Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: “Where the Premier League is right now, this season, it feels like we are going to be talking about set pieces a lot. Every weekend and a lot on Monday Night Football.

“There is no team better in the league, so primed, to go on and win the Premier League [than Arsenal], if that’s where the league is going. I mentioned my own team in terms of Liverpool, they don’t seem to be able to cope.

“This team has been built to cope in situations like this, in terms of the back four, the height of the team, the power that they can get. For a long time, I’ve said Mikel Arteta is trying to win the Premier League like a Jose Mourinho team.

“But, as we saw in the stands today, like a George Graham, Arsenal team and there is nothing wrong with that. The most important thing is winning.

“And right now, they are in a great position, certainly after the weekend’s results, to go on and win the Premier League.”

In the past, Arsenal’s attention to detail on set pieces has previously been criticised. Last season, Gary Neville said the Gunners “obsession” with them resulted in them becoming “rigid” and overly reliant.

When asked about set pieces dominating the conversation in the early stages of the season, as well as the fact Arsenal’s winning goal came from a free-kick routine, Arteta said: “Well, in any way it doesn’t make any difference how difficult.

“I think they all have the same value. We are noticing, obviously, a shift. The moment that physicality increases, methods that are implemented are more efficient and the game is more difficult to play.

“You can constrain spaces because physically you are better and you are better at work. You have to find ways to score in different ways and that’s what I think everybody is trying to do..”

Arsenal host Brighton and Hove Albion in the League Cup on Wednesday night, before travelling to Burnley on November 1.