\n<\/p>\n
Jamie Carragher has heaped praise on Gabriel Martinelli following Arsenal\u2019s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, insisting he took a \u201cchance\u201d to \u201cwin them the league\u201d.<\/p>\n
Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal after Kai Havertz quickly cancelled out Rayan Cherki\u2019s stunning opener at the Etihad.<\/p>\n
The result means City will draw level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table if they win their game in hand against Burnley on Wednesday, but Carragher was impressed with the fight Mikel Arteta\u2019s side showed on Sunday and reserved special praise for Martinelli.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: 16 Conclusions from Man City 2-1 Arsenal: Cherki, Bernardo, Haaland, O\u2019Reilly, bottle<\/strong><\/p>\n The Brazilian came on as a late substitute and very nearly provided the crucial contribution to see Arsenal secure what Carragher insists would have been a title-clinching victory.<\/p>\n Martinelli tackled Marc Guehi in midfield and set up an Arsenal counter-attack which saw Havertz force Gianluigi Donnarumma into a save after being played in on goal by Martin Odegaard.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep an eye on Martinelli, and don\u2019t forget the idea at the start of the game is to press high and be aggressive,\u201d Carragher said while analysing the moment on Sky Sports\u2019 Monday Night Football.<\/p>\n \u201cSo he presses here. That ball is on here to leave (Cristhian) Mosquera in a 2v1. So that\u2019s the chance you take when you press high.<\/p>\n \u201cBut now he wins the tackle. That tackle leads to Arsenal having a chance at 1-1 to go 2-1 up. And that wins them the league. If that chance here goes in the league\u2019s won.<\/p>\n \u201cSo Martinelli has taken the chance to go and win Arsenal the league.\u201d<\/p>\n Carragher now believes that Manchester City are in the driving seat<\/strong> and will overtake Arsenal to clinch the Premier League title.<\/p>\n \u201cI think City have got the edge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think momentum, experience, how that will affect Arsenal psychologically\u2026 not just that game, the run of games that they\u2019re on, the performances as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was definitely a better performance, there\u2019s no doubt about that.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought it was a brilliant game, it was a testament to both teams, both managers, it felt like a real top-level game.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Premier League winners and losers: Man City, Arteta, Leeds, Rosenior, Watkins, Howe<\/strong><\/p>\n On the two teams\u2019 respective run-ins, Carragher continued: \u201cCity have got the harder fixtures, there\u2019s no doubt.<\/p>\n \u201cBut when you get to this stage and you\u2019re in Arsenal\u2019s position, just searching for a win from anywhere and the nerves are kicking in, the supporters are getting anxious, their next two games are at home in the Premier League, it almost doesn\u2019t matter who you play.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more about you really. We\u2019ve seen them lose to Bournemouth and most people would have said that was a game they should win.<\/p>\n \u201cNewcastle is the next game and Newcastle are struggling right now, but you can\u2019t hang your hat on Arsenal at the moment because this run has gone on now for four or five games in different competitions and they just need to stop it quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n