
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has admitted he may have got it wrong when he declared Gunners' title hopes over a few weeks ago.
Writing for his column in The Sun, Wright commented: "I did not think Wenger had a squad large enough or strong enough to challenge for the crown this season.
"And I thought I was proved right by successive and, it has to be said, comprehensive defeats this year at home to Manchester United and then away at Chelsea.
"That is why, with a heavy heart, I was among the legions who wrote off their league chances before Valentine's Day."
However, Arsenal have been in stellar form since then and have roared back into contention and are currently placed third in the premier league table. Wright admitted his folly.
"Yet it seems I may have jumped the gun," he wrote.
"A mere four games after their title dream was supposedly dashed by a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, they are well and truly back in the hunt."
Wright said that an easier run-in meant that Arsenal's title push was on the right track.
"While they have to face the likes of Wigan, Blackburn, Wolves and Hull, Chelsea and United must not only face each other but Liverpool," he explained.
Commenting on the new found resilience of Arsene Wenger men, Wright wrote: "Arsenal have been renowned for struggling against so-called lesser opponents, but not any more."
"They beat Burnley 3-1 at home on Saturday to underline their title credentials.
"People will say 'It was only Burnley' but, in the past, they were exactly the type of club Arsenal had trouble overcoming.
Emmanuel Eboue has shrugged off the criticism, Tomas Rosicky looks sharp and Theo Walcott answered his critics with a well-taken goal."
However, Wright warned that the profigacy of Nicklas Bendtner in front of goal on Saturday could come back to haunt the Gunners. The Dane missed a slew of easy chances that may have easily seen Arsenal score more than five goals.
"The only disappointment to come out of the weekend's clash was the whole host of chances Nicklas Bendtner missed. He could have doubled Arsenal's tally," wrote Wright.
"It is fine to say it did not matter because the Gunners got three goals and won comfortably.
"But what about goal difference?
At this stage of the campaign, every goal counts."
Lastly, he legendary striker said that the injury to talismanic skipper Cesc Fabregas which has ruled him out of the Champions League clash against Porto might actually be a blessing in disguise for Arsene Wenger.
"Fabregas is Wenger's trump card and I would rather the manager used him in the Premier League to try and win a trophy closer to home, instead of gambling him in a Euro competition he has less chance of winning.
That is because I believe Arsenal have a better chance of hitting the jackpot in the Premier League this May than the Champions League," concluded Wright.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น