Ex-England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright remains confident in Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes, despite their recent slip further behind Liverpool after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
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Speaking on his “Wrighty’s House” podcast, the former star even joked that Arsenal should consider a mini-break to Dubai to reset and reignite their form, just as they did during last season’s title push.
In Sunday’s hard-fought game at Stamford Bridge, Gabriel Martinelli’s opening goal was canceled out by Pedro Neto’s stunning strike, resulting in a point for each side. This leaves Arsenal sitting in fourth place after 11 games, trailing Liverpool by nine points, with Manchester City four points ahead. Now winless in four league matches, Arsenal’s title hopes are beginning to look shaky to some.
But Wright disagrees with the pessimism, suggesting the point at Stamford Bridge could prove crucial. “Chelsea’s on the rise right now, and we still went there and got a point. After 11 games, I’m still seeing that as a good result,” he remarked. Wright believes the title race is far from over, citing that even City are likely to drop points this season, adding, “This point might come back to be very valuable.”
Wright also highlighted Liverpool’s current momentum, acknowledging their strong start and solid lineup with a confident defense and in-form goalkeeper. However, he’s not convinced that Liverpool’s pace is unstoppable, hinting that every team is likely to face setbacks. “If we’d lost, we’d be feeling out of reach, even though teams are dropping points,” he noted.
Arsenal’s form slump coincides well with the international break, giving key players like Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice a chance to recover from recent injuries. Wright joked about the players’ potential return, “Saka, Declan, we need you to chill on this one!” referencing England’s call-up process and expressing hope that Arsenal’s stars will get a much-needed rest.
Clive Palmer, a guest on the podcast, even suggested, “Get to Dubai for a couple of days!” to which Wright responded enthusiastically: “Yes! Look what happened when we went to Dubai last time—get the suncream, we’ll come back like The Hulk!”
Last season, a mini-break to Dubai after three consecutive defeats helped Arsenal rediscover their rhythm, leading to a strong finish, although they were narrowly bested by City in the title race. With the Champions League schedule now even more packed, planning a similar getaway may be difficult, but Arteta has hinted that another trip may be in the works for the new year.
Arsenal’s next chance to secure three points will be when they host Nottingham Forest on November 23, with fans and former players alike hoping that the team’s season gets back on track.