Jamie Carragher names one obstacle that will stop Arsenal winning the title

Jamie Carragher has claimed Manchester City star Erling Haaland is the biggest hurdle standing between Arsenal and the Premier League title.

Arsenal currently sit top of the table after eight games, holding a four-point lead over Liverpool and three over City. The Gunners have capitalised on Liverpool's recent slump, with the Reds losing three games on the bounce.

Despite Liverpool spending over £450million in the summer transfer window - bringing in Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Alexander Isak - Carragher sees City as the greater threat to Arsenal's title hopes.

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Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Carragher said: "Arsenal came into this season worried about Liverpool being the major obstacle to ending a 21-year title wait.

"Now their biggest fear might be Erling Haaland. Where Arsenal have the best squad among the contenders and Liverpool must fix well-documented issues, Manchester City have the most influential player and dynamic attacker.

"The Norwegian is the biggest reason why Pep Guardiola's side have a great chance of reclaiming their crown. Without him, City's most realistic target would be finishing in the top four.

"I stand by my claim that Haaland is already the greatest goalscorer we have ever seen in England."

The Norway star has scored in 12 consecutive games across club and country, equalling a feat achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at Real Madrid - first in the 2014/15 season and again in April 2018.

In the Premier League, Haaland has already netted 11 goals in just eight games.

"When a title-challenging side looks so dependent on one footballer, usually that is a source for concern. Guardiola will feel blessed," Carragher wrote.

"Haaland is so good he can be the difference every time he plays.

"He is the most lethal finisher of this generation, which is why he is already worthy of comparison with past legends."

The Liverpool icon added that Haaland belongs in the same bracket of greatness as Thierry Henry and Ian Rush, citing his prolific goal-scoring as a driving force behind City's haul of titles and honours.

"That is why in the pantheon of the greats, the likes of Henry and Ian Rush – who are revered as part of legendary teams – can argue their goalscoring records carried more weight, albeit Henry was a much different profile of attacker to the others," Carragher penned.