Carragher backs Manchester City to be Arsenal's only real Premier League title rivals after Fernandez signing

Jamie Carragher has named Manchester City as Arsenal’s principal Premier League title challengers, arguing that the deadline-day signing of Enzo Fernandez has elevated them above Chelsea in the race for the top flight.

Fernandez, a World Cup winner with Argentina, completed his move to the Etihad Stadium on transfer deadline day, reuniting with manager Enzo Maresca, who has recently taken charge at City. The deal caps a sweeping midfield overhaul that also included the arrivals of Elliot Anderson — who completed his move during the World Cup — and teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, whom City made the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history.

The rebuild was necessitated in large part by the departure of Rodri, the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder who left for Barcelona after six years at the club and four Premier League titles. Carragher acknowledged the scale of that loss but was impressed by how City have responded.

“Losing Rodri was a really big thing and I thought it would be really difficult to recover from that,” Carragher said. “But if you said they’d bring in Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez you’d say that’s a top midfield. I think that gives them the greatest chance, ahead of any other team, and maybe the only team who can wrestle this title from Arsenal.”

Carragher had previously tipped Chelsea for a strong campaign, citing their absence from European football and the appointment of a new manager as factors in their favour. The loss of Fernandez, however, has significantly altered his assessment.

“I think he does [take City closer to the summit], certainly pushed them above Chelsea,” Carragher said. “Myself and plenty of others thought Chelsea would have a really good season. But losing Enzo Fernandez, who over the last two or three years has been one of the big players for Chelsea — he’s gone to Man City. They look a lot stronger and they’re going to be the biggest challengers to Arsenal now.”

Fernandez’s departure leaves Chelsea short of one of their most influential performers at a critical juncture, while City’s willingness to invest heavily across multiple positions signals clear title intent under Maresca.