Ian Wright Names Adam Wharton as the Midfielder He’d Love to Play With After Palace Display

Adam Wharton midfield brilliance stands out despite Arsenal beating Crystal Palace in Carabao Cup drama

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has heaped praise on Crystal Palace Adam Wharton after the youngster produced a brilliance midfield performance during a dramatic Carabao Cup quarter-final clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s side eventually progressed to the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw and an exhausting penalty shootout victory, but Wright’s attention was drawn to Wharton’s composure, vision, and ability to dictate play under pressure.

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Arsenal appeared set for a narrow win when Maxence Lacroix turned the ball into his own net in the 80th minute, only for Palace captain Marc Guéhi to equalise deep into stoppage time.

Extra time failed to separate the sides, leading to a remarkable shootout in which 15 penalties were converted before Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Lacroix’s decisive effort to seal Arsenal’s place in the last four.

Despite the Gunners’ success, Wharton’s influence continued to grow as the game wore on.

Ian Wright Explains Why Wharton Stands Out

Speaking on ITV after the match, Wright — who played for both Arsenal and Crystal Palace — singled out the 21-year-old midfielder as the type of player he would have loved to play in front of.

“It’s the composure and the technical ability,” Wright said.
“He can get himself out of little pockets of areas. If you’ve got runners or a good hold-up man like Jean-Philippe Mateta, he gives you the ball.”

Wright highlighted Wharton’s willingness to look forward and attempt difficult passes, a trait he believes separates top midfielders from the rest.

“He’s the kind of midfielder I want playing behind me because I know he’s always looking for me. Even if it’s a hard pass, he’ll try it.”

Crystal Palace improved markedly after the break, and Wright credited Wharton’s forward passing for shifting the momentum.

“They should have started the game like that,” Wright added.
“Once they played with more belief and went at Arsenal, you could see the difference.”

Wharton later underlined his quality with a pinpoint free-kick delivery that led to Guéhi’s equaliser, reinforcing his reputation as Palace’s chief playmaker.

Rapid Rise and Growing Reputation

Since joining Palace from Blackburn Rovers, Wharton has become central to their style of play. His calmness in possession, progressive passing, and tactical intelligence have already attracted interest from top Premier League clubs.

Valued at around £70 million, the midfielder has been linked with Manchester United, while his performances have also placed him firmly in England contention ahead of future international tournaments.

Palace captain Joel Ward summed up Wharton’s impact succinctly.

“The sky is the limit for him. He’s changed the way we play. He’s the orchestrator — the quarterback.”

For Arsenal, the victory keeps silverware hopes alive and sets up a Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea. For Palace, the exit was painful, but performances like Wharton’s offered encouragement.

Wright’s admiration carries extra weight given his history with both clubs. His verdict felt definitive: Adam Wharton is already operating at a level that elite forwards dream of playing alongside.

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