Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has reacted to Tottenham Hotspur’s summer transfer business on his podcast Wrighty’s House.
The former Gunners ace who won the league with Arsenal in 97-98 believes that Tottenham have strengthened their squad considerably and could cause all sorts of problems for the other Premier League teams, especially Arsenal.
He said via Talksport: “I feel Tottenham are going to cause problems. You can’t not be jealous of that summer, especially coming from the other side of north London.
“They are frightening man. Everything we are doing at Arsenal, and I am putting on as my armour. But we have done this. We have Vieira. We have two number 10’s now. And we are still trying for Tielemans. And we have Gabriel Jesus.
“So, you are trying to arm yourself because the Tottenham fans are saying ‘well, we kind of have Bissouma now, Richarlison, Kane, then Bentancur is going to kick in and we have seen what Romero is about’.
“When you look at how Tottenham can flex when they are doing it under this manager, it kind of makes me feel a little bit, you know.”
Arsenal have had an impressive transfer window themselves and they have managed to sign players like Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira. Meanwhile, Tottenham have improved by bringing in the likes of Fraser Forster, Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma, Clement Lenglet and Richarlison.
Antonio Conte’s men are not done in the transfer market yet and they are closing in on the signing of Djed Spence from Middlesbrough as well.
Tottenham finished two points ahead of Arsenal in last season’s Premier League table, securing Champions League qualification. Their business this summer will improve the squad even further, and it remains to be seen whether the Gunners can catch up next season.
The arrivals of Richarlison and Perisic will add more depth and quality to an already exceptional attack comprising Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. Although Arsenal have improved with the addition of the former Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus, they simply do not have as much quality and depth as Tottenham going forward.
Furthermore, the likes of Lenglet and Spence will add some much-needed depth in the defensive positions and allow Spurs to tighten up at the back. Spurs conceded 40 goals in the league last season and they will be hoping to improve on that front next year.
The way Spurs have gone about their transfer business this summer, it would hardly be a surprise if Conte’s men managed to launch a proper title challenge in the upcoming season, and it is quite understandable why Ian Wright is concerned.
Yes, hopefully Martinez will go to Man U (who are a shambles anyway) and then there is the Partey ‘situation’, which if true, will leave the Arse possibly with just one DM. Their new Portuguese lad, Viera, already crocked in training and wearing a protective boot! All it needs is for Jesus to turn out not to be the saviour they expect and it’s hello mid-table mediocrity again!
I like Wrighty too.As an ex-gooner he is nearly always complimentary about Spurs which is a lot more than you can say about gooners and ex-gooners generally.
He has to be worried about the arse’s poor window so far and it looks like Manure are going to win the race for Martinez.
Yeah he seems to be a decent chap in his old age. Saw him in Purley once and he seemed alright 👍
I don’t mind him either, really couldn’t stand the bloke when he played for Woolwich but he does try and say things as he sees them off the pitch these days. Most of what he says since he’s been a pundit is generally logical and fact based. He has his take on things but you’re never thinking “what a load or garbage” like you are many of the others. I don’t mind him being a Woolwich man, what else can he be, but a down to earth guy who thinks before he speaks.
That is exactly how I see it at this point also. United are an utter shambles, Chelsea are in a state of flux and the Arse are merely ‘treading water’ in my opinion. Newcastle will get there, with that kind of financial backing, but not this season. So we have a real chance not only to achieve 3rd this year, but to cement a top 4 position with the extra Champions League place coming available to EPL clubs from 23/24.
To be fair, much as I hate Arsenal, I genuinely don’t mind Wrighty! He wears his heart on his sleeve, as an ex-Gooner, which I have no problem with, but my overall impression of him is as a pretty honest, down-to-earth sort of bloke, who tells it how it is.
In which light he has a right to be worried! Arsenal have bought a career 1 in 3 goal per game striker, in Jesus, to replace Aubameyang and Lacazette, plus a lightweight Portuguese attacking midfielder who’s already crocked himself in training and is in a protective boot!
Spurs, on the other hand, coming off of obliterating the Arse post the January transfer window, with an 11 point/+27 goal swing, have already recruited Perisic, Bissouma, Richarlison and Lenglet, leaving no doubt which of the two clubs has won this transfer window ‘hands down’ so far.
Based on form, at the back end of last season, we wiped the floor with the Arse and with our current recruitment we have not only cemented that advantage, but increased it. Factor in Utd’s shambolic transfer window and top 4 for us is looking odds-on, at this point, for next season.
He’s not wrong and now you have about five ‘moneyed’ PL sides including Arsenal, Chelsea, United and Newcastle all scrapping for a limited list of the same names…half of which are set on joining Barca, Bayern, PSG, Inter etc
If you think we overpaid for Richarlison just grab the popcorn and watch that lot try and outbid each other for ‘better than mediocre’ players like Tielmans.
We’re lucky to be out of it now, just snap up a bargain or top target if one becomes available.
Chelsea and United in particular could end up looking very desperate in the coming weeks.