Arsenal maintained their position at the Premier League summit with a 2-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday, but the performance left club legend Ian Wright with a nagging concern.
Wright's Warning on Arsenal's Cutting Edge
Speaking to Premier League Productions, Wright admitted his worry about the team's inability to kill games off, despite creating numerous chances. He pinpointed a recurring issue that nearly cost them at the Emirates Stadium.
"I think David Raya has probably saved our blushes with that amazing save," Wright said, referring to the goalkeeper's late stop to deny Yankuba Minteh. "But it's a problem we've got at the moment. For some reason, with the chances we're making, we don't seem to be able to take them to be comfortable in the game. Then the anxiety kicks in and it feels like a basketball match kind of energy."
How the Premier League Clash Unfolded
The match saw Arsenal take control early. Martin Odegaard opened the scoring with a superb strike in the 14th minute. The lead was doubled before half-time thanks to a Georginio Rutter own goal.
Brighton fought back after the break, with Diego Gomez pulling a goal back to set up a tense finish. Arsenal had opportunities to extend their advantage but were ultimately reliant on David Raya's fine save to secure the three points. The win preserved Arsenal's two-point lead at the top after Manchester City also won earlier in the day.
Arteta Echoes Wright's Sentiment
Manager Mikel Arteta concurred with Wright's assessment in his post-match comments. He expressed delight with the overall display but frustration at the narrow margin of victory.
"Very happy with the performance, individually and collectively, so dominant. We were a big threat," Arteta stated. "But the margins should have been much bigger. With the amount of situations, chances, open chances that we generated, it should never be 2-1. That's the Premier League, that's the step that we have to make."
Wright did offer a note of optimism, suggesting the imminent return of defender Gabriel Magalhaes could help settle the side. However, he stressed the need for immediate improvement with a crucial run of fixtures ahead.
Arsenal's upcoming schedule is demanding:
- Aston Villa (H) – Premier League – December 30
- Bournemouth (A) – Premier League – January 3
- Liverpool (H) – Premier League – January 8
- Portsmouth (A) – FA Cup – January 11
"We've won the game and hopefully we can settle down and start taking these chances," Wright concluded. "I don't think we will be able to get away with that too often."
