Arsenal legend Ian Wright expressed his disappointment regarding the team’s midfield setup against Bournemouth, asserting that Mikel Arteta made a mistake by not starting Ethan Nwaneri. Wright’s comments came after Arsenal’s unexpected 2-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium, a match that marked the Gunners’ first loss of the season.
Arsenal entered the match with significant momentum, having won four consecutive games across all competitions. However, an early setback occurred when William Saliba received a red card for a foul on Evanilson in the 30th minute. Goals from Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert in the second half sealed the Gunners’ fate, putting a dent in their Premier League title aspirations.
Reflecting on the game, Wright mentioned that he sensed the match would be challenging from the outset. He noted, “There was something about it when you saw the teams and how Bournemouth are when they’re down there. It felt like it was going to be a tough game.”
Despite the defeat, Wright believes that the reaction from fans and pundits was exaggerated. “If Arsenal lose, it’s like Thanos has come,” he joked, indicating the emotional investment fans have in the club. He urged for calmness, stressing the need to focus on improvement despite the loss and the absence of key players.
Wright also critiqued the midfield trio of Mikel Merino, Thomas Partey, and Declan Rice, agreeing with former teammate Kieran Gibbs that something was amiss. He expressed a preference for including Nwaneri in the starting lineup, especially with Martin Ødegaard sidelined. “You can start him and then if it’s not going right then you can go into that kind of midfield,” Wright suggested.
Looking ahead, he was hopeful about Nwaneri’s chances for a start in the upcoming match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, stating, “It would be interesting. I wouldn’t be against that.”
Arsenal now faces a crucial challenge as they prepare to take on league leaders Liverpool this weekend, trailing them by four points in the standings.
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Ethan Nwaneri’s potential inclusion in the starting lineup could be pivotal for Arsenal as they seek to rebound from their recent setback and regain their momentum in the title race.