Ian Wright criticised Arsenal after their defeat to Aston Villa in the Premier League
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright(Image: PA)
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Arsenal legend Ian Wright and former Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill were critical of the Gunners’ game management in their defeat at Villa Park.
Emi Buendía struck in the 95th minute to secure all three points for Villa, calmly planting the ball past David Raya with the last kick of the game.
Matty Cash had opened the scoring in the 36th minute, but Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard responded early in the second half to level the score.
Villa were deserving of their win, given the chances they created throughout the match, but pundits have highlighted Arsenal’s poor game management in the closing stages.
The defeat leaves Arsenal top of the Premier League, but their lead has been cut to just two points following Manchester City’s 3-0 win against Sunderland.
Wright believes Arsenal’s players should have been more conservative in the final moments to secure at least a point away from home.
“I think you’ve got to look at the substitutions he [Emery] made, Malen coming on, offensive, Buendia coming on, offensive, I think that should have been the signal to Arsenal to say, ‘right, ‘let’s shut up shop now because they’re going for it’,” Wright told Premier League Productions.
Asked if that meant Arsenal’s game management was not right, Wright replied: “No, it was not.
“I think once you get past 85 minutes, I think Arsenal going there - let’s face it, Villa, with the chances they had, could have won the game - you then say, ‘let’s take what we’ve got now and get back to London.’”
O’Neill added: “I think some players have to take responsibility. You [Wright] mentioned Madueke should have run it into the corner; these are the type of things the manager would have been encouraging him to do exactly that.
“So you’re talking about the game management; sometimes it’s not down to the manager. He would’ve been shouting, Madueke wouldn’t have been able to have heard him, but he would’ve been shouting, ‘take it to the corner.’
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“I think you know this: these are not young players anymore. You should know this; you know the last five minutes of a match will be very tight. You know what the manager’s thinking - he would’ve taken a draw.
“It’s great to be offensive, and it’s great to be thinking you can score in the last minute. Let’s say Madueke had broken through and suddenly something opened up for him and he scored a goal - there would be nobody in the dressing room saying they were going for that.
“Again, you’re away from home against a side who are right up alongside you, and this is a very, very important stage of the season. Every game is, but coming into Christmas, the last thing you want to do is surrender that great record you’ve had in the circumstances you’ve had.
“Had Villa scored 15 minutes earlier and you’re then desperate to get an equaliser yourself, fine, absolutely change it up. But when you’re holding on to something, and you’ve had a bit of luck 10 minutes earlier, take that luck and just run it into the corner.”
Wright then said: “I have to agree with Martin. Naturally, as a forward, if we’re getting into that stage of the game where they’re putting pressure on - they’ve put two forwards on - then you naturally know, ‘I’m going to start running it into the corner now.’
“Because a point at Villa at this stage is good. I think a lot more will lose points at Villa Park, but it would’ve been a good one to take.”
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