Arsenal icon Ian Wright has issued a stark warning to his former club, insisting that something must change in their attacking philosophy if they are to maintain their Premier League title push. The Gunners suffered a disappointing 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United last weekend, a result that has prompted serious reflection despite their position at the summit of the table.
Wright's Call for Attacking Evolution
Speaking on The Overlap, Wright expressed concern that Arsenal's title challenge could peter out unless they find a way to create more chances from open play. While Mikel Arteta's side have scored 42 league goals this season—second only to Manchester City—their performance against United highlighted a concerning lack of creativity beyond set-pieces.
'I'm quite confident that whatever happened in the dressing room afterwards, something has to change, or it will peter out for us,' Wright stated emphatically. 'Something has to change, we can't carry on like that.'
The Eze Conundrum
Wright identified summer signing Eberechi Eze as a potential solution, but expressed frustration that the creative midfielder is being restricted by Arteta's rigid tactics. The former England striker believes Eze needs greater freedom to influence games, similar to how he performed at Crystal Palace.
'Eze needs to be played and be free to play,' Wright explained. 'He's got to have the freedom to wander into areas and do what he's doing, but at the moment it does feel a little bit rigid for him. Someone's going to have to be left out, but you can't have somebody like Eze just there, not contributing when we need that kind of profile.'
Wright's Preferred Arsenal Front Four
Despite his advocacy for Eze, Wright revealed he would maintain Martin Odegaard as the number ten, questioning what difference Eze would make if deployed in the same restricted manner. Instead, the Arsenal legend proposed significant changes to the attacking lineup that started against Manchester United.
Wright's ideal front four would feature:
- Bukayo Saka on the right wing
- Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing
- Viktor Gyokeres as the central striker
- Martin Odegaard as the attacking midfielder and captain
This selection would see Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard dropped from the starting lineup, with Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke also missing out. Wright's preference for Gyokeres over Jesus represents a significant shift in attacking approach, potentially offering more physical presence and goal threat.
Arteta's Response to Defeat
Manager Mikel Arteta has spoken positively about the squad's reaction to the Manchester United setback, describing their response as excellent and beautiful. The Spanish coach revealed the team held reflective discussions about their feelings and their approach for the remainder of the season.
'We have earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions,' Arteta stated. 'In the next four months, we're going to live and play with enjoyment, with a lot of courage and with the conviction that we're going to win it. This is going to be the mindset and where we're going to put the energy.'
Arteta expressed hope that everyone connected with Arsenal would embrace this positive mentality as they prepare for their next Premier League fixture against Leeds United on Saturday. The manager's comments suggest he believes mental attitude rather than tactical changes might be the key to maintaining their title challenge.
However, Wright's analysis indicates that more fundamental changes might be necessary, particularly in how Arsenal's creative players are deployed. The tension between maintaining tactical discipline and unleashing individual talent represents a crucial challenge for Arteta as Arsenal seek to convert their four-point lead into a first Premier League title in over two decades.
