Jamie Carragher names 2 Arsenal stars who 'looked terrified' in damaging 4-1 Manchester City loss
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has said that Arsenal centre-backs Gabriel Magalhaes and Rob Holding looked petrified of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland during the Premier League clash on Wednesday (April 26). Carragher added that he would have also been scared had he gone up against the Norwegian sharpshooter.
Manchester City picked up a massive 4-1 win over Premier League leaders Arsenal in their top-of-the-table clash at the Etihad. Their talisman, Haaland, found the back of the net once and provided a couple of assists to Kevin De Bruyne. John Stones scored the other goal for the hosts, while Holding netted a consolation for the Gunners.
Thirteen minutes into the game, Carragher said that the centre-back pairing of Holding and Gabriel looked terrified of City’s towering centre-forward.
The Arsenal centre backs are terrified of Haaland!
(So would I be!) #MCIARS
Carragher tweeted:
“The Arsenal centre-backs are terrified of Haaland! (So would I be!)”
At the end of the game, Carragher said that Holding and Gabriel were no match for Haaland, adding that the former Borussia Dortmund man looked unstoppable.
Pep talking after the game about using Haaland with more direct passes, he was unplayable tonight when getting the ball early.
The CB’s for Arsenal
were not great, but very few defenders can cope with him physically.
I think that was one of Haaland’s best games for Man City.
“Pep talking after the game about using Haaland with more direct passes; he was unplayable tonight when getting the ball early. The CBs for Arsenal were not great, but very few defenders can cope with him physically. I think that was one of Haaland’s best games for Man City.”
With last night’s goal and two assists, Haaland took his Premier League goal contributions to 40 for the season (33 goals and seven assists) in 29 games.
The loss against the reigning champions, meanwhile, left Mikel Arteta’s side in a tricky place in the standings. They still have a two-point lead over City at the top, but the Cityzens have two games in hand.
Nigel Reo-Coker says Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is team’s weak link
Former West Ham United man Nigel Reo-Coker was critical of Gabriel Magalhaes following Arsenal’s 4-1 defeat at the Etihad. He said that the Brazilian was an easy target for attackers, adding that Gabriel always slipped up and gifted goalscoring opportunities to the opposition. Reo-Coker said (via HITC):
“I'll say this now, if I was a captain still playing in this league and in this game, and had a decent striker, do you know what I'd tell my striker? Play on Gabriel. He is going to make a mistake; he is going to do something that will give you an opportunity.
“He will always make a mistake in 90 minutes or let someone in. Gabriel is still too rash, doesn't play at a calm level; he's still too emotionally involved every game he plays in.”
Gabriel looked unsure of himself in the defeat at City. He did not attempt even a single tackle, lost four of six duels and misplaced two of four attempted long balls. The 25-year-old never looked like going toe-to-toe with arguably the best striker in the world, Erling Haaland.