Jamie Carragher lambasts Arsenal 'nonsense' with honest Mikel Arteta progress review

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Jamie Carragher has dismissed criticism surrounding Arsenal's dependence on set pieces this season as "absolute nonsense." The Gunners currently sit atop the Premier League table with just seven matches remaining, nine points ahead of Manchester City .

It has been an almost perfect campaign under Mikel Arteta , who appears poised to deliver the first league crown to north London in over two decades come May - following years of being the proverbial bridesmaid but never the bride. For context, Arsenal have finished second in the league in each of the previous three campaigns, edged out by Pep Guardiola's Sky Blues by just two points in 2023/24 - the nearest they have come to glory in recent years.

However, 2025/26 appears to finally be Arteta's year, provided the Spanish tactician continues to extract nothing short of perfection from his squad on the final stretch. Set pieces have proved a significant element of the Gunners' achievements this time round, with 21 goals from dead balls altogether in the Premier League.

That represents 34.4 per cent of their overall goal haul this term, and is the highest proportion from any of Europe's top five leagues. Yet, some have argued that Arsenal will exclusively be remembered for exploiting set pieces this campaign rather than their remarkable teamwork and defensive shutouts.

Carragher , however, has slammed that viewpoint. Speaking on Sky Sports alongside Thierry Henry and David Jones , the Liverpool legend said: "Some of the nonsense that's been spoke about Arsenal from other people in the game about, 'Should there be an asterisk around their name if they win the league,' or, 'I don't recognise them as title [winners],' is absolute nonsense.

"We analyse football teams on this show every week, all season, every year. There's no right or wrong way to play football, it's about being the best at what you do.

"And right now, whether you like it or not as an Arsenal supporter, they're going to be remembered as a set piece team. When they win the league, in 10 years time, people will say, 'It was only set pieces or whatever.' But how could he [Arteta] take on Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola - two of the best teams in European football at that time - with less, maybe, wages or less spend at that time? He had to find another way, and he's done it."

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Arsenal have also excelled in Europe this campaign alongside their domestic dominance, topping the league phase of the Champions League table and securing automatic passage to the round of 16.

Elsewhere, impressive showings in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup have paved the way for a possible quadruple this season, should the Gunners maintain their composure.

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Next up for the side is a Champions League last 16 second-leg encounter with Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday evening. The two teams battled to a 1-1 stalemate at the BayArena last week, with home advantage in Arteta's favour when the fixture at the Emirates Stadium kicks off at 8pm.

The Gunners then meet Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, March 22, where they will hope to secure their first piece of silverware for what has been a remarkable season by all measures.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.