Jamie Carragher has accused Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side of resembling Mauricio Pochettino's exciting but trophy-less Spurs team.
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Carragher compares Arteta's side to Pochettino's SpursNotes danger of becoming 'nearly team'Comes after Champions League exitWHAT HAPPENED?
In an article for the Telegraph, the ex-Liverpool defender described Arsenal as being in danger of making a name for themselves as a "nearly team", just like Pochettino's Spurs — attractive and very well-coached, but prone to falling at the final hurdle and failing to secure silverware.
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"Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are in danger of becoming Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs; a side to be admired for nearly being great," wrote Carragher. "It is damning with faint praise to say Arteta, just like Pochettino during his spell at Spurs, deserves more respect and credit for making Arsenal challengers than criticism in the event of falling short. Recognition for doing such a good job will be no consolation if history judges Arteta’s reign without a Premier League or Champions League on his CV."
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Carragher's comments come after a disappointing week for Arsenal in which they slipped up in the Premier League — their 2-0 loss against Villa handing control of the title race to Man City — before crashing out of Europe against Bayern Munich.
(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
In terms of the title race, the odds are now stacked in Manchester City's favour, and Arsenal will need to go full throttle in the league in order to push them until the very end. Next up, the Gunners face the prospect of a huge North London derby, taking the short trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 28 April.