Ian Wright has admitted he remains uneasy about Arsenal’s Premier League title push despite their 2-1 victory over Chelsea restoring a five-point lead at the summit.
The Gunners edged past their London rivals in a tense encounter at the Emirates, with all three goals arriving from set-pieces. Yet the narrow margin and late defensive anxiety have left former Arsenal striker Wright questioning whether Mikel Arteta’s side are convincing enough in the closing stretch of the season.
Ian Wright questions Arsenal title hopes after Chelsea win
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men following Pedro Neto’s dismissal, but still managed to cause problems in the second half. Goalkeeper David Raya was called into action several times, while Liam Delap had an injury-time equaliser ruled out for offside.
Arteta admitted his “heart almost stopped” during the closing stages. Wright echoed those nerves.
“Chelsea, once they went down to 10 men, they started to play. It was worrying.
Arsenal showing those nerves, those jittery nerves at the latter stages of games, they need to take the opportunities earlier on so they can relax at this stage.”
— Ian Wright, Premier League Productions
Wright acknowledged that securing three points is ultimately what matters, particularly in a title race. However, he suggested that Arsenal’s inability to control matches more comfortably remains a concern.
“They have to just win now, especially the home games. It’s not going to be something that instils you with loads of confidence but it’s a win.
We’re seeing in the second half of games, you can get at Arsenal. Chelsea had 10 men there, it would be nice to find out what’s happening to Arsenal in the second half.
It comes down to ‘you get the job done’, I’m happy the job is done, but I’m going to be nervous for the next game because I’m seeing that again in the second half.”
— Ian Wright
Set-pieces decisive but open play questions remain
All three goals in the match stemmed from dead-ball situations, underlining Arsenal’s effectiveness in those scenarios. However, open-play dominance was less evident, particularly after the interval.
Having followed Arsenal’s recent fixtures closely, late-game vulnerability has surfaced on several occasions. While results continue to arrive, performances have not always provided reassurance.
However, it remains too early to draw definitive conclusions. With a five-point cushion at the top, Arsenal control their own destiny, even if tension is increasing.
Key Insights
- Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to restore a five-point lead.
- All goals came from set-pieces.
- Wright highlighted second-half nerves.
- Chelsea created chances despite playing with 10 men.
- Arsenal remain top but performances divide opinion.
What’s Next?
Arsenal face another crucial fixture next weekend as the title race intensifies. Maintaining defensive concentration and improving control in the latter stages could prove decisive.
Will Arteta’s side tighten up in key moments, or will late-game anxiety resurface in the run-in?
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