Arsenal are reeling after last night’s 3-3 draw against Southampton. Ian Wright has issued a passionate message of support to Arsenal’s wilting stars, who were on their knees following the chaotic draw. The Gunners ultimately salvaged a point courtesy of two late goals, but the realisation that Manchester City are now the overwhelming favourites to retain their Premier League crown was scant consolation. Mikel Arteta’s side travel to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, where only a win would keep alive their increasingly remote hopes of a first league title in 19 years.
Reacting to his old side’s latest capitulation, Wright wrote on Instagram: ‘Lovely few days in South Africa with the family. Was on a flight back last night so just got updates from fellow passengers. Obviously disappointing, but say what you whatever you want, until it’s mathematically over, I have to believe and support the boys. Hope!!! Still got hope. Boys are obviously going through it right now, the pressure, dropped points, individual errros, conceding too many goals – it’s all happening. But our young team is still top of the league. Look how far we’ve come. Not over until it’s over. And I’m not trying to be some positive guru -I can’t help that I feel I really want them to do it.’
Arteta must now rally his troops ahead a daunting test in midweek but he sees no reason why pressure should be impacting on his young side. He said: ‘Absolutely, enjoy it. To enjoy the moment we are in, to enjoy the position we are in and to play every single ball with that emotion and that purpose, which is what I see every day in what they do. I don’t see the lack of confidence when a team is able to do that [what we did tonight]. Normally the players start to hide in certain moments – I didn’t see a single player do that, they were willing to take risks, to take the initiative. That’s why we created the chances we created, that’s why we got back to 3-3 from 3-1 and should have won the game. So, the confidence is there, it’s those moments that we need to cut back. At this level, we cannot give away the goals that we have given. It’s as simple as that.’
Ian Wright has issued a passionate message of support to Arsenal’s wilting stars who were on their knees following last night’s chaotic 3-3 draw against Southampton. The Gunners ultimately salvaged a point courtesy of two late goals, but that spirited comeback felt like scant consolation amid the realisation that Manchester City are now the overwhelming favourites to retain their Premier League crown. Mikel Arteta’s side travel to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday where only a win would keep alive their increasingly remote hopes of a first league title in 19 years.
Reacting to his old side’s latest capitulation, Wright wrote on Instagram: ‘Lovely few days in South Africa with the family. Was on a flight back last night so just got updates from fellow passengers. Obviously disappointing, but say what you whatever you want, until it’s mathematically over, I have to believe and support the boys. Hope!!! Still got hope. Boys are obviously going through it right now, the pressure, dropped points, individual errros, conceding too many goals – it’s all happening. But our young team is still top of the league. Look how far we’ve come. Not over until it’s over. And I’m not trying to be some positive guru -I can’t help that I feel I really want them to do it.’
Arteta must now rally his troops ahead a daunting test in midweek but he sees no reason why pressure should be impacting on his young side. He said: ‘Absolutely, enjoy it. To enjoy the moment we are in, to enjoy the position we are in and to play every single ball with that emotion and that purpose, which is what I see every day in what they do. I don’t see the lack of confidence when a team is able to do that [what we did tonight]. Normally the players start to hide in certain moments – I didn’t see a single player do that, they were willing to take risks, to take the initiative. That’s why we created the chances we created, that’s why we got back to 3-3 from 3-1 and should have won the game. So, the confidence is there, it’s those moments that we need to cut back. At this level, we cannot give away the goals that we have given. It’s as simple as that.’