Speaking on The Overlap, Jamie Carragher has been discussing Arsenal’s failure to make the top four last season and their problems at left-back.
The Gunners narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot last season after a string of poor results towards the end of the campaign, and according to the Sky pundit, their issues at full-back were to blame.
As many Arsenal supporters will know, Kieran Tierney was sidelined for the final weeks of the season, meaning that the likes of Nuno Tavares and Cedric Soares had to provide cover.
Unfortunately, especially in Tavares’ case, neither player was up to scratch and Carragher has placed a fair bit of blame on the Portuguese youngster.
What’s been said?
Carragher spoke about Arsenal missing out last season.
“I think Zinchenko, the left-back position probably cost you at the end of last season getting into the top four. Think of those games, Crystal Palace away and the final one at Newcastle. I think Tavares played left-back there and he just wasn’t up to the level, you know that better than me,” Carragher said.
A long season
It’s very easy to point the finger at someone like Tavares for his poor performances towards the end of the campaign, but Arsenal finished fifth because they weren’t good enough over 38 matches.
Yes, it’s easy to point at one player for being the sole cause of these problems, but that’s over-simplifying a complex situation.
Tavares could have done better in those matches, but there isn’t a single Arsenal player who didn’t have poor moments last season.
Alexandre Lacazette barely scored a goal, Aaron Ramsdale’s form dipped towards the end of the campaign and the team received no fewer than four red cards throughout the season.
Did Tavares play his part in Arsenal’s collapse? Of course he did, but it’s a long season and the final games aren’t what cost the Gunners, all 38 matches have to be taken into account, especially when you miss out by two points.
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