Ian Wright admitted he felt uneasy about Arsenal’s overall display, even though they secured a hard-fought victory over Chelsea, warning that the team’s late-game nerves could become a serious issue in their push for the Premier League title.
The former Ian Wright shared his concerns after Arsenal edged past Chelsea 2–1 in a tense London derby. Defender Jurrien Timber proved decisive, scoring a second-half header that ultimately restored the Gunners’ five-point advantage at the top of the title race.
Arsenal had earlier taken the lead thanks to William Saliba, but their momentum was disrupted just before halftime when an unfortunate own goal leveled the match. The game then tilted further in Arsenal’s favor shortly after they regained the lead, when Chelsea winger Pedro Neto was sent off after picking up a second yellow card — marking Chelsea’s seventh red card in league play this season.
Despite holding both a numerical advantage and a narrow lead, Arsenal struggled to close the game comfortably. They were forced into a series of late defensive efforts, with goalkeeper David Raya making key saves to deny chances from Enzo Fernandez and others. Chelsea even thought they had equalized deep into stoppage time, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Wright said Arsenal’s inability to control matches late on remains troubling. He noted that similar patterns had appeared in recent draws, where the team lost composure in the second half. According to him, Arsenal must become more clinical earlier in games to avoid tense finishes that put unnecessary pressure on the squad.
Former manager Glenn Hoddle echoed those concerns, observing that Chelsea appeared more relaxed and dangerous after going down to ten men. He felt the visitors grew into the match, showing confidence and even deserving a share of the points based on their late attacking threat.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, however, remained positive. He praised his players’ effort and emphasized the high quality of the opposition as a key reason why the match stayed competitive despite Chelsea’s disadvantage. He also highlighted the importance of set-pieces, which once again played a decisive role in securing the victory.
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