Ian Wright asks why Mikel Arteta plays Arsenal’s Willian, Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi



[ad_1]

Willian runs with the ball during Arsenal's Premier League clash with Everton

Arsenal’s arrival in the summer, Willian, has disappointed Ian Wright (Image: Getty)

Ian Wright has urged Mikel Arteta to start putting his faith in Arsenal’s young talent over and above Willian, Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi and believes that the club’s upcoming meetings with Brighton and West Brom are ‘must-sees’.

The Gunners are just four points out of the relegation zone after losing eight of their first 14 Premier League games and head coach Arteta is under intense pressure ahead of a tight winter schedule.

Summer arrival Willian has struggled hard to live up to expectations this season and Wright is hoping the Spaniard will mix things up on Boxing Day, when the north London team will play host to bitter rivals Chelsea.

Arsenal v Manchester City - Carabao Cup Quarterfinals

Smith Rowe impressed after coming off the bench against Manchester City (Image: Getty)

He believes that defenders Kolasinac and Mustafi, who started when Manchester City eliminated Arsenal from the Carabao Cup in the middle of the week, should also retire from the team at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.

“I have to say, from my point of view, with the coach and the players that he’s picking now, I think people like Emile Smith Rowe and Joe Willock and those guys, I would like to see them have a chance,” the legendary said. Arsenal forward at Optus Sport’s The Kelly and Wrighty Show.

‘That’s simply because you’re looking at the Willians, it’s not happening and he’s not playing well. Why do you play people like Kolasinac? Why do you play someone like Mustafi? I prefer to see [William] Saliba, who is playing in the U-23, I prefer to see Smith Rowe and I prefer to see something different.

‘I would say to the people above: give the money to Mesut Ozil if they are not going to play with him and move on. The same with Kolasinac and the same with those players who are in and around the club and are not going to contribute.

That’s what you need, players who are contributing. Arsenal have to realize that they are in a situation that can get worse and if they lose those games against Brighton and West Brom … those games are games that they must win. ‘

Wright hopes Arteta will trust Arsenal’s young talent (Image: Getty)

Wright continued: ‘What Arsenal fans need to acknowledge right now is where we are.

“It’s the understanding of where we also have to look at the players in the locker room. Do you realize what is happening?

“I saw Burnley beat the Wolves the other day and it was a performance from a team that knows where they are.

And this is what I say with Arsenal, there are not many players … I think [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang in Jurgen Klopp’s last season at Borussia Dortmund could have been flirting with that, but in the end they pulled it off, no problem.

“I think Cedric Soares at Southampton had a moment where they were struggling, but there are not many in that locker room who know the situation they are facing now.”

Arsenal confirmed on Thursday that Thomas Partey will not take part in the team’s clash with Chelsea this weekend due to his thigh injury.

However, there is a possibility that club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (twin) and Gabriel Martinelli (shin) could feature in the Emirates.

Follow Metro Sport through our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more stories like this, check out our sports page.

MORE: Paul Merson explains why Kieran Tierney should get Arsenal captaincy

MORE: Atlético de Madrid plans a move for Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles after Kieran Trippier’s suspension

Arsenal FC



[ad_2]