Jamie Carragher predicts where Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City will finish this season after watching Gunners’ 2-2 draw at Etihad

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher gave his take on the Premier League title race after Arsenal played out a 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, September 22, at the Etihad stadium.

Having gone down to 10 men at the stroke of half-time, the Gunners defended their 2-1 lead for the next 45 minutes but John Stones salvaged a point for the hosts in the dying seconds of the game.

City are currently at the top of the table with 13 points after five games, with Liverpool in second on 12 points and Arsenal fourth with 11. Aston Villa occupy the third spot with 12 points. Predicting the title race for the ongoing season, Carragher said (via Football 365):

"I think it will be similar to last season where Liverpool are just slightly behind these two teams. By next season they could be really improving and maybe looking to go for it when the manager knows everything about his squad."

He added:

“Remember he hasn’t really bought anymore. It’s still last season’s team and I still think they’re the third-best team in the league. Looking at the two teams we watched today, I still just think Man City have got a little bit more."

Carragher concluded:

"When I look at the squads and the attacks… Kevin de Bruyne didn’t play today. They’ve got a bit more in the attacking areas, I think they’ve got a bit more. I just think Man City have the edge.”

Liverpool won 3-0 against Bournemouth on Saturday at Anfield with the Gunners and City being unbeaten (alongside Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion) in the league at the moment.

Mikel Arteta proud of Arsenal's 2-2 draw against Manchester City

Speaking after the game, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta explained his viewpoint of the game.

He said (via Football 365):

“We had a very difficult start in the first 10-15 minutes. We were struggling to control certain spaces and we didn’t have enough ability to get out of the first 25-30 metres of the pitch which meant that we never controlled the game."

Arteta added:

“After that, we started to understand what we had to do, we were much more efficient. Obviously, we were thrown into a context that made it almost impossible for 56 minutes, but anyway, we adapted to that context in the best possible way and the way the team competed was just unbelievable."

He concluded:

“I’m so proud of the team. You can’t be thrown into a more difficult situation against that kind of opponent and the way we handled that. I’m so proud.”

Haaland gave the hosts an early lead with a well-timed run before new Arsenal signing Riccardo Calafiori scored a stunning goal to level the game. Arsenal took the lead from a corner routine, courtesy of a header by Gabriel Magalhaes.

Leandro Trossard, who was on a yellow, got his second booking for kicking the ball away after the whistle to reduce Arsenal to 10 men. The Gunners defended late into the second half but a short corner followed by a deflected shot dropped the ball at Stones' feet two yards outside the box, from which City equalised to end the game at 2-2.