Jamie Carragher thinks Nuno Tavares played a part in costing Arsenal Champions League footballing last season following his loan move to Marseille, as he told the Football Daily.
The Anfield legend spoke about Tavares heading for the Arsenal exit door and how, if Mikel Arteta had a ‘better left-back’ option to Kieran Tierney, then they probably would have finished fourth in 2021/22.
In the end, the Gunners lost out to that all-important role on the last day of the Premier League season, with several games costing them that spot.
One of the games was Arsenal’s defeat at Crystal Palace towards the back end of last season, with Tavares struggling at left-back.
Carragher touched upon that game at Selhurst Park and how he was very critical of the player back then, as he has now moved to Ligue 1.
“Tavares has gone out on loan, I saw,” said Carragher. “I think if they had a better left-back, then you probably would be in the top four now.
“I don’t like singling one player out, but I just think he cost you in certain games. I remember that game at Crystal Palace last season, it was on Monday Night Football and I said on TV ‘he has to come off at half-time’. I think he put Xhaka left-back.”
ZINCHENKO A MASSIVE UPGRADE ON TAVARES
Oleksandr Zinchenko has been brought in by Arsenal this summer from Manchester City and he has deployed the left-back/left wing-back role during their last two pre-season matches.
There’s no doubt that the Ukraine star is a massive upgrade on Tavares and now the north London side can afford to have Kieran Tierney on the sidelines.
Heading into the new Premier League season, Tierney hasn’t featured in pre-season because of injury and fans would normally be very worried.
But with Zinchenko now on Arsenal’s books, they have a player that can’t just cover for the flying Scotsman, but also possibly take his place if he starts off well.
That journey officially begins away at Crystal Palace on Friday night, a game that will seriously test Arteta’s defence and mental strength.
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