Arsenal’s defensive struggles this season are similar to the growing pains Liverpool suffered through in the early days of Jurgen Klopp’s reign, Jamie Carragher has claimed.
The Gunners have conceded eight goals in just five games this season, with Sunday’s 2-2 draw away to Watford particularly frustrating for fans after a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace had given them a 2-0 lead before two huge errors from Sokratis and David Luiz gifted the Hornets a point.
But there is hope that Arsenal can turn things around, with former Liverpool defender Carragher comparing the Gunners’ defensive weaknesses to those he saw at Anfield soon after Klopp arrived on Merseyside - though he admits he is concerned by the fact these mistakes are still occurring in Unai Emery’s second season in north London.
"For a long time, going back to when I was a kid, Arsenal were known as a really solid team," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"They have now gone completely the other way. They are a team you expect stupid things to happen to. Even when they are 2-0 up, you can never be convinced by them.
"I think Liverpool had a similar problem a few years ago under Brendan Rodgers and at the start under Jurgen Klopp.
"No matter what the situation was, you always felt something could go wrong. What's worrying for Arsenal is that it's happening again in Emery's second season."
In particular this season, summer signing David Luiz has come in for criticism from Arsenal fans, with the Brazilian giving away two penalties in just four games since arriving from Chelsea.
And it’s a sentiment shared by Carragher, who says the 32-year-old and his defensive partner Sokratis are not up to the standard needed for a team with top-four ambitions.
"In David Luiz they have signed another defender who makes mistakes and in Sokratis, the club have brought in someone else who is perhaps not at the level where they need him," Carragher added.
"The problem is, that will not change, no matter who the manager is. David Luiz has had plenty of managers and he has always had the same problems."
