Ian Wright and Paul Ince clashed over Wolves’ ‘time wasting’ during their 2-1 defeat at Arsenal on Wednesday night, as they told Premier League Productions.
The Arsenal legend stated that his former side ‘deserved’ the win because of Wolves trying to ‘hold onto the game’ at 1-1, but his fellow pundit, and ex-Wolves man, Ince, was having none of it.
Bruno Lage’s side took the lead at the Emirates when a mistake at the back resulted in Hwang Hee-Chan opening the scoring in the first half.
But a fired-up Arsenal continued to throw punch after punch in the second half, before Nicolas Pepe and then Lacazette in stoppage time blew Wolves away.
After the game, Wright wasn’t happy with how Wolves were trying to hold onto a point against their Champions League-chasing rivals.
“Wolves were wasting time, I don’t want to sound all sour and that,” said Wright. “But I am quite pleased that happened in the end when you get one that late.
“I think we did deserve that because they were trying to waste time.”
Ince responded: “Excuse me? Why were they wasting time?”
Wright then added: “Because they were trying to hold onto the game. You look at the way Wolves were playing, with the players they have got. They brought Neto on. Podence had to go off. They weren’t trying to have a go at Arsenal. They were sat back.”
That’s one of the biggest three points of the season for Mikel Arteta and his side because it provides them with that added edge in the top-four race.
The Gunners have now moved into fifth place, one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United with two games in hand.
If those in Arsenal colours want to dream further, then they are five points behind third-placed Chelsea, who have played a game extra, and if they win that, then they could even drag them into the top four scrap.
Either way, whilst Arteta has divided opinion during his time in north London, he can’t be criticised for the job he is currently doing.
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