Mirror Football brings you some of the latest news from the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal gear up to face Wolves in the Premier League
Arsenal find themselves at a pivotal point in the season which could ultimately decide if it will be a successful one. Mikel Arteta’s side have the opportunity to extend their lead atop the Premier League table to seven points when they take on Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday night, with rivals Manchester City playing Newcastle in their next game on Saturday.
Arteta has confirmed that four Gunners stars will miss the trip to the West Midlands, though full-backs Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White will be available to face Wolves despite their respective fitness concerns.
There was more positive news from N5 on Tuesday with reports that star player Bukayo Saka has signed a new contract with the club. The 24-year-old winger has extended his deal to 2031, becoming the club’s best-paid player on more than £300,000 per week.
Now, with the Gunners still competing in all four competitions past the halfway point of the season, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the biggest stories involving the north Londoners.
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Carragher takes swipe at Bukayo Saka
Jamie Carragher has indirectly called out Saka by saying Arsenal have no attacking superstars. The former Liverpool player, unlike many in the media who have questioned the Gunners’ mental fortitude, insists the greatest threat to them being crowned league champions is their lack of quality in the final third.
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He also suggested that Gunners talisman Saka is not a world class player in the mould of a Mohamed Salah or Erling Haaland who can finally lead them to glory this season.
Speaking on The Overlap, Carragher said: “I made a comment about Arsenal about a month ago on the back of picking my Premier League team of the season so far. People talk about their mentality, I actually think Arsenal have a great mentality.
“But their problem could be a lack of quality in the final third. When I watch Arsenal, I don’t think they’ve got an absolute superstar in the front four or five players. I thought Saka and Odegaard were going to get there a couple of years ago.
“I thought they were ready to almost become the best players in the Premier League. I still don’t think Arsenal have got one of them.
“So people talk about mentality with Arsenal but what I think could stop them [in the title race] is actually quality. I think we would all agree that Arsenal are the best team this season but Man City have been there before, even if it’s not a vintage City.”
Keown faces ‘pressure’ blame
Wayne Rooney has blamed Martin Keown and fellow former players-turned-pundits for making the team more nervous. Arsenal’s players have repeatedly had their mentality questioned in recent years, having failed to get over the line and secure that elusive Premier League trophy three years in a row.
As the pressure ramps up in this season’s title race, many are questioning whether they will once again fall short despite leading the table for the majority of the season. Manchester United legend Rooney believes Arteta’s players are handling the pressure well but thinks former stars like Keown and their fans are generating unnecessary noise that could derail their title bid.
Warning Arteta to block it out, Rooney said on The Overlap: “For me, what’s happening is the Arsenal fans and the ex-players coming out are actually killing them. They should stay silent and let everyone else talk.
“I heard Martin Keown on talkSPORT saying having a six-point lead is better than nine [after Manchester City’s comeback against Liverpool]. What are you talking about?!
“That’s an experienced [former] player who’s getting nervous. I actually think Mikel Arteta is handling it brilliantly with the way he’s speaking with the media. It’s other people connected to the club who are actually having more of an effect.”
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