Arsenal beat Chelsea to rebuild a five-point gap over Premier League leaders Manchester City, but Ian Wright isn’t completely confident about their title chances
Ian Wright criticized Arsenal’s second half (Image: Ben Roberts – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Ian Wright has revealed why he is worried about a “nervous” Arsenal side in the Premier League title race. The Gunners defeated Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday, moving them five points clear of Manchester City with a game in hand.
Goals from William Saliba and Julian Timber secured the victory, but it was not without its downsides. Despite Chelsea being down to 10 men in the second half, Arsenal still conceded chances and credit to David Raya for a crucial save late on.
Wright believes it is concerning that his former club has not been able to comfortably attend matches. “Chelsea started playing even after they were down to 10 men. I was worried,” the Arsenal legend told Premier League Productions.
“Arsenal are nerve-wracking and nerve-wracking at the end of the game so we need to take our chances early so we can relax at this stage.
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“They have to win now, especially home games. It’s not something that gives us a lot of confidence, but it’s a win.”
Arsenal took the lead through Saliba’s goal and equalized just before half-time through Piero Hincape’s own goal. The Timbers regained the home side’s lead in the second half, but Joao Pedro came close to pulling it for Chelsea in stoppage time.
“I think in the second half of the game we will be able to beat Arsenal,” Wright continued. “Chelsea had 10 men, but I want to see what happens to Arsenal in the second half.
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Mikel Arteta admitted his “heart stopped” after the match (Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
“The bottom line is, ‘Get the job done.’ I’m glad it’s done, but I’m going to be nervous for the next game, because it’s going to happen again in the second half.”
Mikel Arteta was also nervous at the end. “It was a save from him in the last action. It was a cross, not a shot, but it turned out to be an unbelievable shot,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference. “I got the right angle and my heart almost stopped, but David’s hands were there and he brought me back to life.
Arsenal next travel to Brighton on Wednesday, looking to make it three wins in a row. Brighton have won their last two Premier League games and promise to give the Gunners a tough test, who resume their FA Cup campaign away to Mansfield Town on Saturday.
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