Jamie Carragher names four Arsenal starters who aren’t world-class; but believes one could be

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Jamie Carragher has shared whether he believes any of Arsenal’s regular front four are world-class players right now.

Mikel Arteta has plenty to ponder after defeats to both West Ham and Fulham in the last week. The defence has looked vulnerable. But it is alarming that the Gunners have scored just two goals in the last three games. And only one of those goals has come from an attacker.

Bukayo Saka still boasts some respectable numbers this season. The 22-year-old scored his sixth league goal of the campaign on Sunday, while he also has six assists.

Jamie Carragher says Arsenal quartet aren’t world-class

However, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard have had a pretty poor time, managing just nine league goals between them.

That means Erling Haaland has scored one less goal than the Arsenal front four combined so far this season. And speaking on Monday Night Football (broadcast on 1/1; 19:29), Jamie Carragher seemed to hint that he only believes that one of the quartet actually has world-class potential.

“What Arsenal have got is four top players, I have no doubt about that. They are top players. The criticism we have of them is that they’re not world-class. And do I believe any of them can become world-class? I think Saka can,” he said.

“But then it takes you to the point of, in the league, Liverpool won a title because they had Mo Salah, City have won titles in the past because they had Aguero. They’ve now got Erling Haaland. Is that enough for Arsenal to win a league title? Are any of them world-class right now to take Arsenal to the title? And I’d say no.”

Still plenty of time for Gunners players to surpass expectations

The four were absolutely exceptional last season. Odegaard and Martinelli scored 15 goals each in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Saka was one behind. And Gabriel Jesus had 11 despite missing a large part of the campaign due to injury.

Obviously, we have a better idea of the levels Odegaard and Jesus can reach. They are older than the two wingers.

Having said that, Odegaard has only just turned 25. Kevin De Bruyne is widely considered the finest Premier League midfielder of the last decade. And he did not join Manchester City until he was 24. So there is plenty of time for the Norwegian to improve further.

And Saka and Martinelli are both 22. It is frightening the levels they have reached already. And they will be hopeful that they can find their best form again.