Ian Wright has said that Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock didn’t have the impact he was expecting against Wolves yesterday, on Premier League productions, but he still wants him to be given more regular chances.
Willock was drafted in Arsenal’s starting line-up for the contest, as he made his second start in two league games, but the youngster was not at his best, as the Gunners fell to a defeat.
Willock failed to show the same creative skill that he has in Europe this season.
And although Wright still wants Willock to be given more opportunities, he has suggested he was disappointed that the 21-year-old’s inclusion didn’t appear to give Arsenal more energy in midfield.
“I feel that when they’re that deep they seem to have a real problem getting closer,” Wright said.
“They don’t get close enough to the three [attackers], to pass the ball to the Willian and the Sakas, who can then release Aubameyang.
“It seems very leggy, we haven’t got the legs to get up. I thought Joe Willock would have done that today, but he huffed and puffed a bit, I’d like to see him play a bit more, but unfortunately it didn’t quite happen for him today.”
Willock was far from the only Arsenal player to perform under par, and in fairness to the prospect it was hardly the ideal game for him to come in for.
Willock was only making his second Premier League appearance of the campaign, and with senior players struggling around him, he was always unlikely to thrive.
Arsenal ultimately sunk to a 2-1 defeat against Wolves, and they could have few complaints about the result.
The Gunners never really got going and despite some pressure in the second-half, they could not trouble Rui Patricio in the Wolves goal consistently enough.
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