Carragher claims Arsenal are 'best defensive team' in world football
Jamie Carragher has declared that Arsenal are now the finest defensive unit anywhere in the game, pointing to the clean sheet performance at Anfield as the evidence. The Gunners won 1-0 at Liverpool on Sunday, a result that marked their first league victory there since September 2012 and moved Mikel Arteta's side three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game in the 16th minute, finishing from close range after a driving run and pinpoint delivery from Declan Rice, with Martin Odegaard also heavily involved in the build up. But it was what happened at the other end that caught Carragher's attention on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.
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Liverpool dominated large spells of the match after falling behind, registering 33 crosses and 17 shots, yet failed to hit the target even once. According to the article, it was the first time that has happened to Liverpool in a league game at Anfield since records began in 2003, a run stretching back across 442 consecutive home top flight matches.
Carragher's verdict
“This Arsenal team are the best defensive team not just in the Premier League, but I think in world football right now,” Carragher said.
The Liverpool legend also picked out Odegaard for special praise, highlighting his role in winning the ball back high up the pitch after a Liverpool goal kick, an area that has reportedly caused problems for the Reds in recent weeks.
“I don't know if the plan was for [Alexis] Mac Allister to stay high and allow [Jeremy] Jacquet to step in, but it is brilliant from Odegaard, you have to say that,” Carragher said. “Great press from [Christos] Tzolis and Odegaard is really brave. He's almost quicker to the ball than Mac Allister is but again, that's something only the Liverpool team know. It's a fantastic ball from Declan Rice.
“It's poor from Liverpool, but brilliant from Arsenal. The plan would always have been that when the ball goes into Mac Allister, Odegaard it's your job to get after him. The way we saw Fulham do it, the way we saw Brighton do it. It was just that they won the ball in a different part of the pitch.”
Riding their luck but holding firm
Arsenal were not without fortune on the day. Liverpool were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty in the first half for Jurrien Timber's shirt pull on Alexander Isak, a moment that could have changed the complexion of the match.
Despite that let off, Arteta's side managed the game superbly from front to back, with Gabriel and the Arsenal backline marshalling Liverpool's attacking threats throughout. Gary Neville, working alongside Carragher on Monday Night Football, described the overall team performance as a “masterclass”.
The win at Anfield sends a clear statement about where Arsenal stand defensively as the season progresses, with the margins at the top of the table increasingly likely to be decided by moments like these.
