Ian Wright Sounds Warning Over Arsenal Finishing After Narrow Brighton Win

Ian Wright has warned Arsenal their finishing must improve, with concerns resurfacing after another dominant display ended in a nervy 2-1 win over Brighton.

Ian Wright has raised fresh concerns over Arsenal finishing issues following their tense 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, warning that missed chances could derail Mikel Arteta’s title push as the season intensifies.

Arsenal maintained their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League thanks to goals from Martin Ødegaard and a Brighton own goal, but the narrow margin once again highlighted a recurring problem in front of goal.

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The Gunners looked in control early at the Emirates Stadium, with Ødegaard firing Arsenal ahead inside 14 minutes before Georginio Rutter inadvertently doubled the lead shortly after the break. However, Diego Gomez’s strike for Brighton ensured a nervy final half-hour.

Brighton pushed for an equaliser late on, forcing David Raya into a stunning stoppage-time save to deny Yankuba Minteh — a moment that proved decisive in preserving all three points.

Despite Arsenal’s territorial dominance and volume of chances, the contest remained uncomfortably close until the final whistle.

Ian Wright Identifies Growing Problem

Speaking on Premier League Productions, Wright praised the result but expressed concern over Arsenal’s inability to turn control into comfort.

“It’s a problem we’ve got at the moment,” Wright said. “With the chances we’re creating, we’re not taking them, so we can’t be comfortable in games. Then the anxiety kicks in and suddenly it feels like a basketball match.”

Wright admitted Raya had “saved our blushes” with his late intervention and warned that Arsenal may not always escape punishment if the pattern continues.

The former Arsenal striker also pointed to the return of Gabriel Magalhães as a potential stabilising influence, particularly alongside William Saliba.

“Gabriel coming back should help us settle down with that familiarity,” Wright added. “But in the main, we’ve won the game — and hopefully we start taking these chances because we won’t get away with it too often.”

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Gabriel’s late introduction against Brighton marked his first appearance since November and offered a glimpse of added defensive assurance during a frantic closing spell.

Arteta Admits Scoreline Should Have Been Bigger

Mikel Arteta echoed Wright’s concerns in his post-match assessment, admitting Arsenal should have wrapped the game up far earlier.

“We were very dominant and a big threat,” Arteta said. “But with the amount of chances we created, it should never be 2-1. The margins should have been much bigger.”

The Arsenal manager stressed that while performances remain strong, efficiency must improve to sustain a title challenge in a league that punishes wastefulness.

Despite boasting creative talents such as Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka and Trossard, Arsenal have increasingly relied on defensive resilience rather than attacking ruthlessness to secure results.

As Manchester City and Liverpool continue to apply pressure, Arsenal finishing concerns risk becoming a decisive factor in the title race. Wright’s warning reflects a wider reality: dominance alone will not be enough during the run-in.

If Arsenal are to turn control into silverware, sharper execution in front of goal must follow.

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