Ian Wright feels something will happen this season that’s ‘not in the ordinary’ regarding the Premier League title challenge for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Arsenal legend added that ‘nobody is speaking about Tottenham too much’, but he thinks, if they are still within touching distance when players return from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, then things could become interesting, as he told Premier League Productions (17/10/22 at 2:10 pm).
As for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s side will take on champions Manchester City after the World Cup and Wright feels people will start to take them ‘seriously’ if they beat the current champions.
North London hasn’t been like this for a long time and both sets of fans will be feeling their team can do the unthinkable under Antonio Conte and Mikel Arteta, respectively.
But, at the end of the day, the only man and team that is well and truly proven are Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.
Yes, Conte has tasted Premier League title success with Chelsea before, which will be significant, but Guardiola is chasing a fifth title in six seasons, including a remarkable third in a row, as Wright shared his thoughts on Arsenal and Tottenham’s chances.
“That’s what Arsenal will be counting on (Man City buckling under a hostile atmosphere),” said Wright. “You want to be in and around it because it’s a bonus to beat Manchester City. People start to take you seriously if you beat them.
“If Man City come to the Emirates, then it will be even more ramped up. Remember the players will be going into the game saying ‘Man City are the favourites’, no matter if we are top or not, wherever they are. They will just be up to playing that game. All they want to do is impress themselves on Man City. Letting them know we are going to give you a proper game because, with the other games, we’ll knick it. We will knick a 1-0 away to Leeds.
“If we could get anything from Manchester City, then you start to believe. We might be able to do something. If I am in that dressing room, I am thinking, we are four points clear. You look at the team, unbelievable home record, at the moment, and we are playing fantastic. Why should we fear anyone? So, by the time Man City come after the World Cup. I can’t wait for that game if I was a player.
Wright then added later on about Spurs: “We don’t know what will happen after the World Cup and how everything will pan out, during these crazy times. If they come back and are in touch. I just feel something will happen this season that’s not in the ordinary.
“He (Conte) might (also) have a player in mind to come in (January window). Them and with their fitness. Just staying amongst it. It feels like they are creeping up. Nobody is speaking about them too much. Everybody is talking about they aren’t this or that. You have an elite manager that have elite players.
“If that happens, where he adds a couple of players until after the World Cup and they are still in touch, then you have to start looking at Spurs because they aren’t playing unbelievable right now, but they are in touch.”
HELPING HAND NEEDED FROM MAN CITY
If either Arsenal or Spurs are to do the unthinkable, then they will probably need a helping hand from Man City along the way.
The champions have been posting 90+ points over a season in their sleep, and if you can match or beat that, then you deserve huge applause.
Only Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have managed to break down those barriers, so these are the levels needed.
The remarkable thing for both Spurs and Arsenal is that they could still post a 90+ point season, yet still end up with a runners-up medal.
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