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There's one week to go in the transfer window and every Premier League club still has a lot to do before it slams shut. Here, SIMON JONES explains what your club still needs, who they are in for and who may go.
Jamie Carragher after Chelsea’s opening win over Fulham (Picture: Sky Sports) Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has named Arsenal’s biggest rival for the Premier League title this season. The Gunners clinched their first league title since 2004 last season, finishing seven points ahead of Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side made a bright start to their Premier League title defence, beating newly-promoted Coventry City 3-0 on Friday night. Arsenal then saw several of their possible title rivals flounder over the weekend, with Liverpool dropping points, Manchester City surviving a scare and Manchester United losing. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. Man City needed two late goals to come from behind against Bournemouth while Liverpool scored an injury-time equaliser at Newcastle United. Man United were on the wrong end of what could yet prove to be the biggest upset of the Premier League campaign as they suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Hull City, the favourites to finish bottom. Chelsea have been named as possible dark horses for the title under Xabi Alonso and began their Premier League campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win over Fulham. Mikel Arteta is hoping to retain the Premier League (Picture: Getty) The Blues’ attack dazzled at Craven Cottage, with Brazil striker Joao Pedro,£117m summer signing Morgan Rogers and England playmaker Cole Palmer all getting on the scoresheet. Carragher said there were ‘things to really like’ about Chelsea’s performance but still views Manchester City as Arsenal’s biggest rival for the Premier League title this season. The Liverpool legend almost predicted Chelsea to finish second behind Arsenal but still believes Man City are the ‘better team’ even despite the departures of legendary manager Pep Guardiola and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. ‘A few weeks ago I had it in my mind that Man City had a chance [to win the Premier League],’ Carragher said on Sky Sports. New Man City boss Enzo Maresca (Picture: PA) ‘I just thought maybe Arsenal would be thinking more about the Champions League after coming so close last season and Man City would be desperate to get the title back. ‘But I changed my mind after Rodri left. I just can’t see Manchester City winning the Premier League this season without Rodri. ‘Having said that Man City are a better team than Chelsea. Not playing in Europe could be a factor and play a huge part for Chelsea and give them a big lift, we’ve seen that before with other teams. ‘But I would just go for Man City right now [to finish second behind Arsenal].’ Chelsea beat Fulham in their Premier League opener (Picture: Getty) On Chelsea’s opening west London derby win over Fulham, Carragher added: ‘There were things to really like. ‘On paper, that front three is sensational. It really is. It looked it in the game. Joao Pedro is fantastic, what a start for Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer was brilliant. ‘When you think about that front three, it’s as good as anything in the Premier League right now. ‘But I do have concerns defensively. They conceded a couple of goals and you look at the goalkeeper… Jamie Carragher's Premier League top-four prediction Arsenal Manchester City Chelsea Liverpool Arsenal won the Premier League by seven points last season (Picture: Getty) ‘They have to sort the goalkeeper issue out because it’s going to come back to haunt them this season, as it did tonight. ‘Chelsea will never win the league with Sanchez in goal. It’s impossible. You just need to think about the teams who’ve won the title recently. ‘Last three teams who won the title have all changed the goalkeeper. Pep Guardiola bringing in Ederson. Alisson comes in for Liverpool. Arsenal don’t win the league if they have Aaron Ramsdale in goal, not David Raya. Impossible. ‘So, one of the biggest reasons why Arsenal won the league, actually, was Raya, they wouldn’t have won the league without them. You can go back to histo
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a training session (Picture: Getty) Mikel Arteta’s treatment of Gabriel Martinelli has caused ‘some discomfort’ within the Arsenal squad, according to reports in Brazil. Martinelli is closing in on a move away from Arsenal after being told to find a new club by Gunners boss Arteta. Having made his first-team debut in 2019, Martinelli is Arsenal’s longest-serving player and has racked up just shy of 300 appearances for the club. Martinelli began to fade out of Arteta’s plans last season but still contributed to Arsenal’s first Premier League title since 2004 and the run to the Champions League final. Exclusive Premier League previews Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free. The writing appeared to be on the wall for Martinelli when Arsenal completed a £34m deal for Christos Tzolis earlier in the summer. The audacious yet unsuccessful pursuit of Brazil icon Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid also suggested Arteta was planning to offload Martinelli. Arteta made his stance on Martinelli clear by leaving the 25-year-old out of Arsenal’s matchday squad for the Community Shield against Manchester City. Gabriel Martinelli is set to leave Arsenal (Picture: Getty) ESPN Brasil say that decision and the general treatment Martinelli has received in recent weeks has left the Brazilian ‘greatly disappointed’. The report adds that other members of Arsenal’s squad were also unhappy Martinelli was left out of the Community Shield altogether and therefore did not receive a winners’ medal. Martinelli was also left out of Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City and told to find a new club by Emirates Stadium bosses. Martinelli was left out of the Community Shield (Picture: Getty) Interest from Galatasaray did not excite Martinelli but he is set to approve a lucrative move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. Globo Esporte say Martinelli has given the green light to the move having initially been reluctant to make the switch to Saudi Arabia. It was reported over the weekend that Arsenal wanted around £60m for Martinelli but ESPN Brasil claim the fee could be no more than £40m. Arsenal legend Ian Wright recently criticised the club’s treatment of Martinelli. Ian Wright criticised Arsenal’s treatment of Martinelli (Picture: Sky Sports) ‘In respects to Martinelli and the way Martinelli has been treated at the moment it really makes me feel uncomfortable,’ Wright told Sky Sports after Arsenal’s win over Coventry. ‘Because he always gives 100 per cent, I’m not saying he’s the greatest, he’s really come up with some big moments for Arsenal, some big games, he’s scored some very important goals… ‘The way he’s been treated at the end here, I know they might want him out, and there’s a lot of people saying, “yeah, maybe it’s time for him to move on”, but there’s ways of doing that and it should suit him as well, how he wants to leave. ‘Not being in the squad, not being spoken to, doesn’t know what’s going on, yes, I do know this, again, not being involved in the Community Shield squad, he doesn’t know what’s happening, I think he’s got a year left [on his contract]. ‘If you bring Vini [Vinicius Junior] in, that kind of level in, Martinelli can say to himself, “well, okay, they’ve brought him and Tzolis, I might be third [choice]”, but if you’re bringing Tzolis in, and he’s looking at Tzolis, you look at Madueke on the other [wing], you’re thinking to yourself, “I think I can still have it with these two, I still think I’ve got something to offer here”. ‘For him to be nowhere near it, it makes me feel sad for him. I’m just saying I think he’s done enough with this team, with this squad, to be treated with a little bit more respect than he’s being treated at the moment.’ Meanwhile, fellow Arsenal great Martin Keown has advised Arteta not to sell Martinelli as he closes in on a move to Saudi. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport
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