Jamie Carragher makes Arsenal claim after Man City beat Man Utd | Football

Jamie Carragher believes Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City may have Arsenal a little ‘worried’ with their 100 per cent start to the new Premier League season.

Arsenal landed an almighty psychological blow on title rivals City with a comprehensive 3-0 victory in last month’s one-sided Community Shield in Cardiff.

But Maresca has managed to steer City back on track after taking over the reins from the great Pep Guardiola in the summer, with the club riding a five-match winning streak in all competitions.

On Sunday afternoon, a ten-man City made it four wins from four in the top flight with victory in a controversial Manchester derby, after which United received an official apology for Erling Haaland’s wrongly awarded second-half strike.

The result ensured Maresca’s men reclaimed their place at the top of the table alongside reigning champions Arsenal, who had beaten Sunderland at the Stadium of Light 24 hours earlier.

City play host to Norwich in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Thursday evening before returning to top-flight action at home to Sunderland three days later.

Arsenal, meanwhile, travel to Portman Road to take on Ipswich in the cup before switching their attentions back to Premier League matters away to Brighton.

Asked if there may have been a ‘mentality shift’ at Arsenal following the club’s title triumph last term, Carragher told Sky Sports: ‘Maybe and they’ve maybe got the best squad now as well.

‘You look at Bruno Guimaraes coming off the bench and making that impact, they didn’t have that player last season.

‘Yeah, I think the psychological impact [of winning the title] will be huge for Arsenal.

‘They won’t have that worry they’ve had of getting across the line.

‘They know they can, they’ll feel they’re the best team and the best squad.

‘But I think what City did yesterday will be a little bit of a worry for Arsenal: “Oh, we know who our challenger is right now!”‘

Carragher believes City’s derby-day win at the weekend was a victory for the neutral Premier League observer as he fears Arsenal could run away with the title if given the chance.

‘Manchester City have had a more difficult start and it was almost good for the league. I know Manchester United fans won’t want to hear that,’ the former Liverpool and England defender added.

‘I think there will be a worry that as soon as Arsenal get some sort of a gap, whether that’s two, three, four points, that it’s going to be very difficult for anybody to claw them back.

‘So City are still in there with them and they’ve made a great start.’

After Sunday’s derby, Maresca’s applauded his players’ efforts and the ‘spirit’ they showed to emerge victorious following Phil Foden’s sending off midway through the first half.

‘The red card changed our plan a little bit but credit to the players because their effort, the spirit has been brilliant,’ the City boss told reporters at his post-match press conference.

‘The moment we go to ten players it changes all the players. At the beginning we wanted to create an overload in the middle but after 23 minutes it changed completely.’

Pressed on whether or not he felt Foden’s red card was fair, Maresca replied: ‘It can be a red card but in the same action it can be a red card for Bruno. It is what it is.’

‘It changed the plan for us but also changed the plan for them. They are unbelievable in transition and the moment we went to ten men we didn’t give them any transition.

‘The tactical plan is one thing but the main thing today was the effort from the players, outstanding.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE: John Obi Mikel blasts £125m Chelsea transfer mistake after Hull draw

MORE: Arsenal told they let go of player ‘worthy of Real Madrid’

MORE: Former Arsenal and Chelsea star makes bleak prediction for Man Utd and Liverpool