Jamie Carragher believes that Arsene Wenger holds Arsenal back, especially in the transfer market.

Speaking on Monday Night Football, the former defender claimed that Arsene is too cautious with his money, a fair accusation, however to claim that Wenger holds Arsenal back is perhaps a step too far.

Also, while assessing Arsenal’s season he, once again, failed to mention how they had to play for the first half of the season with only half a squad – something that never gets mentioned in either side of the debate, neither the injuries suffered by Arsenal nor the luck enjoyed by Chelsea on that front (no team has had fewer injuries than Chelsea this season).

“What we’ve seen of Arsenal of late is that they are with the three best teams now, and then there’s a little level to Manchester United and Liverpool just behind,” Carragher said.

“I think they’ve joined those top two sides that we think every season are going to go for the title. They’re so close.

“He doesn’t need numbers, you look at the squad and the bench, they’ve got it in terms of numbers, and quality throughout.

“The thing with Arsene Wenger is I feel he always wants value in the market, and he always wants to wait, he’s patient.

“Rather than what [Jose] Mourinho did, he got [Diego] Costa he got [Cesc] Fabregas. Maybe at other clubs managers feel that pressure a bit more, but Wenger has been at the club for that long he knows he’s safe in the job.

“If he can’t find a certain type of goalkeeper for a specific price, or maybe a centre back or central midfielder, I don’t think he’ll get them, whereas other clubs will say “you know what, I’m going to pay the extra, I’m going to get them no matter what.”

“He spends the money like its his own, that’s the way he runs the club, you can admire that in some sense.

“But I think maybe that sometimes holds them back.” 

Didn’t hold them back when he got Alexis to join Arsenal instead of Liverpool, did he Jamie?