"Have got to win something" - Jamie Carragher explains why Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have to win a trophy soon

Former Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher has said that Arsenal need to start winning titles to confirm their resurgence under Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard has led his former club to successive Premier League runner-up finishes.

However, success in terms of titles has been sparse, with the Gunners only winning one FA Cup and two FA Community Shields. Although they came close to ending their 20-year Premier League title drought last season, Manchester City eventually finished two points clear to win an unprecedented fourth straight title.

Ahead of the new season, Arteta's side are expected to be the main challengers to end City's Premier League stranglehold. Carragher, though, reckons their title charge doesn't need to come with early exits in domestic cups, saying on We are the Overlap (as per AFCStuff):

“When I look at Arsenal over the last couple of years and when they’ve challenged, they’ve gone out of the cups really early. I think Arsenal are at a stage now where they’re too good as a team to go, ‘We’ll go out of the Carabao here’.

"Arsenal have got to win something. It’s not just about the league. What you don’t want is this great period, where the football’s been brilliant, Arteta’s done a great job, but you end up talking about it like a Pochettino era or a Newcastle with Keegan.”

He concluded:

“There’s nothing to look back on. This group of players, even if they look back on winning the FA Cup (in 2020) - but that wasn’t this team - they’ve got to win something.”

The Gunners open their Premier League campaign at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday (August 17).

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Arsenal sporting director praises new signing Riccardo Calafiori

New Gunners defender Riccardo Calafiori

Gunners sporting director Edu has waxed lyrical of new centre-back Riccardo Calafiori, who has arrived from Serie A side Bologna. He also featured for Italy at Euro 2024.

The 22-year-old was one of the impressive players for Bologna last season in his lone campaign at the club and has now embarked on a new challenge on English shores. Following the completion of the transfer late last month, Edu told the Gunners' website:

"We identified Riccardo as part of our strategy to sign players who fit our profile and will reinforce our squad to compete at the highest level. He is 22 but brings quality and experience. He will quickly grow into being an Arsenal player."

Calafiori will look for a winning start on his likely competitive debut this weekend against Wolves.