Advertisement

Jamie Carragher relates to Man City-Arsenal rivalry after 'hating' Liverpool opponent

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Jamie Carragher has likened Manchester City and Arsenal's new-found rivalry to that of Liverpool and Chelsea during his playing career.

The reigning champions and the Gunners are unlikely foes given their history and geographical location but the latter's emergence as Man City's main title challengers in the past two seasons has given extra bite to their encounters.

Mikel Arteta has transformed his Arsenal side into a real force thanks to smart transfer business and an exciting style of play, yet has narrowly missed out on the club's first top flight success since 2003-04 in back-to-back campaigns at the hands of Pep Guardiola's outfit.

READ MORE: Liverpool fans all make same Trent Alexander-Arnold point after Kyle Walker caught out again

READ MORE: William Saliba already admitted Virgil van Dijk truth despite wild Gary Neville claim

That has made the Gunners resent Man City even more ahead of a third successive title charge in 2024-25 and left them ever so desperate to clinch a vital three points at the Etihad Stadium in their Premier League encounter on side - only to be denied at the death by their hosts.

If the title becomes out of reach for a third year in a row then Carragher believes Arsenal has to win something, at least, to even be remembered as a great side for years to come. Because of this, he feels the already-growing hatred towards City in north London will never stop.

Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast after the game, Carragher, who knows all too well what it's like to despise a team from the other end of the country, said: "If Arsenal don't get over the line and win something, nobody will remember them. When we were playing Chelsea in those big games in the Premier League and Champions League, we hated them.

Jamie Carragher referenced Liverpool's rivalry with Chelsea during his playing career
Jamie Carragher referenced Liverpool's rivalry with Chelsea during his playing career

"I love them now, John Terry and Frank Lampard, we talk about those games and memories, but we were so desperate. You didn't just want to win for yourself, you want them to lose as well!"

In 2022-23, Arsenal finished five points behind City after losing two of its final three fixtures, although the title was already decided ahead of the final day of the season. The following campaign, the Gunners narrowed the gap to just two points - and took things to the final round of fixtures.

But even after winning 16 of its final 18 fixtures of the season, it still wasn't enough. Neither was having the best defense in the league, or scoring 91 goals. Despite being almost perfect, Arsenal just couldn't get over the line, and that's what fuels its hatred for Guardiola's winning machine.