Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes Newcastle United are a major threat to the likes of Arsenal following the conclusion of the 2021/22 Premier League season.
With just two games left of the season, Arsenal headed up north for a Monday night clash against Eddie Howe's side knowing a win would put them into poll position for a top four finish over rivals Tottenham Hotspur. However, the Gunners ran into a black and white buzzsaw, falling 2-0 to Newcastle in front of a raucous St James' Park.
The result can be seen as a culmination of Newcastle's efforts in 2022. The second half of the Premier League season has seen the feel good factor return to Tyneside, with their final home game clash against Arsenal proving to be a statement of intent.
Newcastle looked to be a team transformed pressing with relentless abandon against a shell shocked Arsenal, to the extent you would have thought it was the former chasing a Champions League spot.
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And speaking on 'The Overlap' YouTube channel as part of Sky Sports' end of season live fan debate, Carragher believes that Newcastle could prove to be a major headache for the likes of Arsenal moving forward.
Carragher said: "You think about how bad the first half of the season was and then they've brought players in in January and let’s not kid ourselves or criticise Newcastle and say 'they've spent £100m'.
"They've bought players who are just decent Premier League players, let's not get carried away. Trippier and Guimares are probably players for the future. The rest of them are players you’d expect to be near the bottom. We’re talking if they have a proper season from the start.
"You think of the players they’ve got now, what they’re going to bring to it and they finished 11th, we’re probably expecting them to finish eighth. Can they challenge Europa League positions?
"I think they’re a big problem for the likes of Arsenal, the next two or three years getting into the Champions League. The players they’re going to be going for, that gap is going to get closed."
