The side has now finished second in the past two consecutive Premier League seasons and is currently four points behind Liverpool in the title race\u2014with the Merseyside club having a game in hand - have been eliminated from the FA Cup by the hands of Manchester United, and trail Newcastle United by 0-2 after the first leg of the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHave we already witnessed the peak years of Mikel Arteta\u2019s Arsenal reign? It feels like this Emirates era is heading towards a crossroads, with Arsenal in the middle of a high-stakes game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis will either be one of the greatest seasons in the club\u2019s history \u2013 ending a 21-year wait for the Premier League title \u2013 or a campaign which ends amid a highly charged post-season review into how they squandered their best chance to become champions in two decades. For now, Arsenal are just about doing enough to keep the optimists on board the Arteta train. However, emotions are running high,\u201d wrote Carragher in a column for The Telegraph.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Arsenal went a stretch of three games in a row without a win before an impressive outing against Tottenham Hotspur, where the Gunners registered an important 2-1 victory. However, Carragher suggested that the game against Aston Villa on the weekend would be a symbolic victory for the North London side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Arsenal were a point ahead of Manchester City in the 2023-24 PL season before losing against Aston Villa, their only loss in the second half of the season, which saw the Gunners miss out on their first league title in two-decades by two points.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cNow they need a series of statement performances and victories to convince the world they are title material. With respect, beating a tippy-tappy Tottenham Hotspur team that resembles an academy side is not one of them. Wednesday brought an important victory, but not an especially impressive one.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA win over Aston Villa this weekend, by contrast, will be more symbolic and consequential. There are demons to banish against Villa. Unai Emery dented his former club\u2019s title hopes last April, the 2-0 victory sucking the belief out of the home fans. Had Arsenal won that day, they would have won the title,\u201d Carragher added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The biggest issue for the Gunners will be the lack of attacking firepower in front of goal. The Gunners did not make an attacking signing heading into the season and are now left with a gap in the position. With Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka out with injuries, the Gunners are expected to enter the January transfer window in hopes of working out a deal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA win over Aston Villa this weekend, by contrast, will be more symbolic and consequential. There are demons to banish against Villa. Unai Emery dented his former club\u2019s title hopes last April, the 2-0 victory sucking the belief out of the home fans. Had Arsenal won that day, they would have won the title,\u201d Carragher added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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