Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal have a good chance of securing Champions League football this season with Mikel Arteta at the helm.
The Gunners suffered their first defeat of the campaign on Monday as they were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool at Anfield.
16 Conclusions: Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal
But Carragher says – despite the loss – Arsenal are progressing under Arteta, who is the right man to guide them into the top four.
“Arsenal stayed in the game which was important and they had a big chance and it can be completely different but Liverpool are a few years down the line,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“I think it’s almost an identical job to what [Jurgen] Klopp came into. Klopp came into a Liverpool squad where they weren’t even qualifying for the Champions League. That’s what Arsenal haven’t done for the last few years.
“The first thing for Arsenal is to get back into the Champions League. I think there’s a good chance they can. I didn’t believe that before the start of the season.
“I like a lot of what Mikel Arteta is doing. I don’t think it’s possible for him to get any more out of the group of players he’s got.
“I don’t think that’s a top-four group but the way he’s organising them, I think they could get into the top four because of his management.
“Do I think Arsenal could win a title in four or five years? It’s still very difficult and probably shows what a good job Jurgen Klopp has done.
“But Arsenal have got a really good manager.”