Speaking on the Wrighty’s House Podcast, Ian Wright has called upon the Arsenal squad to step up their game after Mikel Arteta’s defiant comments in his press conference on Tuesday.
Arteta was unwilling to shy away from the fact that his team haven’t been up to scratch as of late, and he says that the press have every right to be slating him.
We got the Gunners icon’s immediate reaction to Arteta’s comments as the Spaniard’s press conference ended as they were recording the podcast.
“Speaking of questions, Mikel Arteta’s press conference has just wrapped, there’s a quote, ‘It is no time to hide, it’s time to put your face and body on the line, you have to take the bullets, you have to put your chest out and say hit me, you have the right to hit me because I’m not winning,” The podcast’s co-host informed the Arsenal legend.
“That’s my manager bro,” Wright said.
“That’s the kind of thing, I’m so happy, I’m so happy to hear that. Look at me, I’m charged, I’m charged bro.”
Wright went on to say that Arteta’s comments were purposefully put out there to get a reaction from the players.
“The thing is, that’s the kind of thing. He’s put that out there for me, for the players to see. They have to react to that manager.”
“That’s a big psychological move that,” Wright’s co-host said.
“Massive, massive move,” The ex-Arsenal striker concluded.
Wright has hit the nail on the head here.
The Gunners squad have to show that they’re willing to work for the manager sooner or later, and if they don’t do it after these comments there are questions to be asked.
Arteta is putting his reputation and his job on the line for these players, taking the blame for the Gunners’ current misfortunes, and if the squad can’t repay that favour, then this situation may end up being unsalvageable.
Wright isn’t even an Arsenal player and he said he was charged up by these comments, so we can only hope that Arteta’s words had a similar effect on the players.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
