Jamie Carragher fears fatigue is more likely to play a significant component within the race for the Premier League title and is anxious Arsenal have been dealt a rough hand in the way in which their fixtures have fallen.
Mikel Arteta’s side arrested their recent dip in form with a vital 1-0 home win at Newcastle on Saturday because of Eberechi Eze’s stunning early strike.
The Gunners will head into Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid with a renewed sense of confidence, not to say a three-point at the highest of the Premier League table, albeit having played a game greater than Manchester City.
Arsenal will return to motion on Saturday after they host Fulham and can have a chance to extend their lead before City are back in motion on Monday night against Everton.
Carragher, nonetheless, fears the short turn around time means Arsenal’s preparations are more likely to be heavily disrupted, rendering the London derby against the Cottagers much more of a banana skin that it already was.
He said: ‘I feel Arsenal have been unlucky, and I do know this playing Champions League semi finals, once you play Wednesday then Tuesday that’s an enormous difference between Tuesday then Wednesday.
‘You’re actually playing three games in six days, quite than three games in eight days. It’s a large difference at this stage of the season.
‘That’s why I actually worry for Arsenal about this (the Fulham game). You play away and should travel, Fulham are a great and decent side and then you definitely’ve got to go again on the Tuesday night.
‘They’ve been very unlucky the way in which the games have fallen. Three games in six days is admittedly tough.’
While three points was all that mattered last weekend, Carragher noted there have been significant warning signs in the way in which Eddie Howe’s struggling side were in a position to play through their opponents.
He added: ‘My worry watching them wasn’t nerves and it hasn’t been the previous few weeks, mine is fatigue.
‘For me Arsenal are the perfect team within the league without the ball. It’s difficult to attain against them and it’s difficult to play against them. After they’re at their best they’re among the finest pressing teams.
‘It was far too easy for Newcastle to make passes and get to the sting of the box.
‘They couldn’t create an excessive amount of after they got there which is an indication of the Arsenal back 4 but it surely looked leggy to me.
‘It was too easy for Tonali and Guimaraes to dicate the sport.
‘To see Newcastle play with ease on the Emirates was a worry to me and smacked of fatigue.’
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