EPL: ‘No longer sharp, quick’ – Carragher names who to blame for Arsenal’s first goal against Chelsea

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has blamed Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for Arsenal’s first goal in their 2-1 defeat to the Gunners on Sunday.

Chelsea took an early lead through Morgan Rogers, who scored with a volley from the edge of the box just two minutes into the game. Kai Havertz then equalised against his former club before Martin Odegaard scored the winner after half-time.

Carragher believes Martinez should have done better to stop Havertz’s effort, although he praised Chelsea for signing the Argentine for just £7.5 million.

“It isn’t a mistake, it was a great deal for £7.5m and he’s still a really good goalkeeper and he’s better than Sanchez. It will make everyone feel a bit more confident as well,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.

He added: “The first Arsenal goal isn’t a mistake, it’s just a goalkeeper who isn’t quite as sharp or quick as he once was to get down. There’s a difference between that and a keeper dropping a cross, it’s just a goalkeeper not reacting quick enough.”

Carragher also compared Martinez to the goalkeeper who helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, insisting that the Chelsea goalkeeper is no longer at that same level.

ALSO READ

• Transfer: Carragher reveals player Arteta failed to sign for Arsenal squad
• EPL: Chelsea change Emi Martinez’s shirt number as Sanchez departs

“Martinez has been a brilliant goalkeeper and he’s still a very good goalkeeper but he’s not the goalkeeper who won the World Cup, he’s not, and that was a little insight into that.”