“They are very very average” Ian Wright points finger at struggling Arsenal duo after Chelsea disappointment

Ian Wright points finger at struggling Arsenal duo after Chelsea disappointment
Arsenal rescued a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday but ex-Gunners striker Ian Wright wasn’t pleased with the performances of two players in particular

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has taken aim at two Arsenal players following their lacklustre performances against Chelsea.

The Gunners found themselves 2-0 down at Stamford Bridge on Saturday before scoring two late goals to rescue a draw. Wright reckons that his old side were “average” for large parts of the game, as Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard both struck in the final 13 minutes of normal time to earn what could prove to be an important point in the Premier League title race.

But Jorginho’s performance in midfield, one which lacked “real drive and movement,” and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s struggles on the left-hand side without now former teammate Granit Xhaka – who was sold to Bayer Leverkusen this summer – had Wright concerned. “Can I be honest?” the ex-Arsenal striker asked on his podcast, Wrighty’s House.

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“I’m thinking with Mikel in that situation you’ve got to recognise, [Takehiro] Tomiyasu starts that game, for me. Zinchenko, without Xhaka and what Xhaka did for us, it’s not the same role, he doesn’t seem to be able to do it without the way Xhaka was playing and giving him that license.

“I was just very surprised that in that game where I believed, with [Raheem] Sterling in his form as well, you have to dampen it down. Tomiyasu starts for me. And I just feel the midfield, Jorginho in there going back to his old place, no disrespect, with his lack of real drive and movement, I thought they had his number.”

Jorginho and Zinchenko weren’t the only ones on the end of Wright’s criticism, though. He believes that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta should’ve noticed how midfielder Martin Odegaard was struggling to make an impact and brought substitute on Kai Havertz earlier.

Have your say! Will Arsenal win the Premier League title this season? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

Oleksandr Zinchenko was criticised by Ian Wright
Oleksandr Zinchenko was criticised by Ian Wright ( Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
So too was Jorginho for lacking “drive and movement”
So too was Jorginho for lacking “drive and movement” ( Image: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“You know what? They had Martin Odegaard’s number as well,” Wright admitted. “It was one of those where we needed to recognise quicker.

“I don’t know why Kai didn’t start, because I’m thinking to myself, we can’t have the running [in attack], it’s not working, we can’t get the ball to them to turn them and run. Havertz, for me, should’ve started.”

Arteta next has a chance to right his supposed wrongs when the Gunners face Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday. Arsenal then return to Premier League action on Saturday by hosting bottom club Sheffield United before a visit to West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

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Ian Wright points finger at struggling Arsenal duo after Chelsea disappointment
Arsenal rescued a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday but ex-Gunners striker Ian Wright wasn’t pleased with the performances of two players in particular

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has taken aim at two Arsenal players following their lacklustre performances against Chelsea.

The Gunners found themselves 2-0 down at Stamford Bridge on Saturday before scoring two late goals to rescue a draw. Wright reckons that his old side were “average” for large parts of the game, as Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard both struck in the final 13 minutes of normal time to earn what could prove to be an important point in the Premier League title race.

But Jorginho’s performance in midfield, one which lacked “real drive and movement,” and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s struggles on the left-hand side without now former teammate Granit Xhaka – who was sold to Bayer Leverkusen this summer – had Wright concerned. “Can I be honest?” the ex-Arsenal striker asked on his podcast, Wrighty’s House.

Aaron Ramsdale handed Arsenal exit route as rivals ‘prepare January transfer bid’

Jose Antonio Reyes: Former Arsenal and Sevilla icon whose legacy lives on
“I’m thinking with Mikel in that situation you’ve got to recognise, [Takehiro] Tomiyasu starts that game, for me. Zinchenko, without Xhaka and what Xhaka did for us, it’s not the same role, he doesn’t seem to be able to do it without the way Xhaka was playing and giving him that license.

“I was just very surprised that in that game where I believed, with [Raheem] Sterling in his form as well, you have to dampen it down. Tomiyasu starts for me. And I just feel the midfield, Jorginho in there going back to his old place, no disrespect, with his lack of real drive and movement, I thought they had his number.”

Jorginho and Zinchenko weren’t the only ones on the end of Wright’s criticism, though. He believes that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta should’ve noticed how midfielder Martin Odegaard was struggling to make an impact and brought substitute on Kai Havertz earlier.

Have your say! Will Arsenal win the Premier League title this season? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

Oleksandr Zinchenko was criticised by Ian Wright
Oleksandr Zinchenko was criticised by Ian Wright ( Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
So too was Jorginho for lacking “drive and movement”
So too was Jorginho for lacking “drive and movement” ( Image: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“You know what? They had Martin Odegaard’s number as well,” Wright admitted. “It was one of those where we needed to recognise quicker.

“I don’t know why Kai didn’t start, because I’m thinking to myself, we can’t have the running [in attack], it’s not working, we can’t get the ball to them to turn them and run. Havertz, for me, should’ve started.”

Arteta next has a chance to right his supposed wrongs when the Gunners face Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday. Arsenal then return to Premier League action on Saturday by hosting bottom club Sheffield United before a visit to West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check outany time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Watch the Premier League, Champions League and more
Watch the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League and much more

TNT Sports gives you access to games across the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Serie A and many more. You can also watch the biggest clashes in boxing, UFC, WWE and the get exclusive action from MLB all for one payment every month. You can watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.