{"id":314438,"date":"2026-04-06T20:25:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=314438"},"modified":"2026-04-06T20:25:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:55:36","slug":"its-laughable-ian-wright-blasts-pathetic-criticism-of-arsenal-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/06\/its-laughable-ian-wright-blasts-pathetic-criticism-of-arsenal-football\/","title":{"rendered":"‘It’s laughable’ – Ian Wright blasts ‘pathetic’ criticism of Arsenal | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Criticism of Arsenal\u2019s approach at set-pieces is \u2018pathetic\u2019 and laughable\u2019, says club legend Ian Wright (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ian Wright has hit out at those fans and pundits continuing to criticise Arsenal\u2019s set-piece approach, insisting the club have every right to seek out any small \u2018margin\u2019 they will to achieve an edge over the opposition.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s side have acquired a fame because the \u2018set-piece kings\u2019 after scoring 21 goals from dead ball situations across the Premier League campaign \u2013 essentially the most of any team within the English top flight.<\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2019s set-piece guru Nicolas Jover has taken on something of a mythical status amongst the fanbase, with a mural of the Frenchman appearing outside the Emirates midway through last season.<\/p>\n

However the Gunners\u2019 physical approach at free-kicks, throw-ins and corners has sparked fury with opposition supporters, with officials coming under increasing pressure to clamp down on dark arts and deliberate holding.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, a defiant Arteta recently admitted he was frustrated that his top-of-the-table Arsenal team had not scored more goals from set-pieces <\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m upset that we don\u2019t rating more [from set-pieces],\u2019 the Spaniard told reporters last month, before his side were beaten within the Carabao Cup final and dumped out of the FA Cup.<\/p>\n

\u2018And that we concede as well. So we would like to be the very best and essentially the most dominant team in every aspect of the sport.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tGet your football fix\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

Metro<\/strong>‘s weekly newsletter In The Mixer delivers punchy evaluation and breakdowns of the most important football stories on to your inbox.<\/p>\n

Enroll here, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Arsenal have wreaked havoc from set-pieces this season (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Arteta\u2019s men are battling for honours within the Premier League and Champions League (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018And that\u2019s the trajectory and the aim of this team. And as a club we would like to be the identical. So let\u2019s try to do this.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arteta dismissed any the criticism that Arsenal had received over their tactical approach as \u2018a part of the job\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t know the way you have fun one goal different to a different one,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n

\u2018Perhaps for YouTube it\u2019s nicer one over one other. I don\u2019t know, but the fact of football depends rather a lot.\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

\t\t\t\t\t

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an online
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbrowser that
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsupports HTML5
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Arsenal legend Wright has been unwavering together with his support through the club\u2019s difficult and testing periods over the course of what has been a gruelling season.<\/p>\n

And talking to YouTube channel GO90<\/a>, the previous Arsenal and England striker launched an impassioned defence of Arteta\u2019s tactics from dead ball situations.<\/p>\n

\u2018Can I be honest? You understand what\u2019s pathetic about people occurring concerning the set-pieces? We\u2019ve seen Man City, Man City have done very well with their set-pieces,\u2019 Wright began.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"FBL-EUR-C1-ARSENAL-TRAINING\"\t<\/div>
Arsenal are back in motion against Sporting on Tuesday (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018The actual fact is, it\u2019s laughable because set-pieces and having the ability to do set-pieces, it\u2019s a part of the sport. <\/p>\n

\u2018In 1999, David Beckham, after Manchester United got hammered in that Champions League final [against Bayern Munich]\u2026 David Beckham put two corners in the very same place so that they could rating.<\/p>\n

\u2018Are you saying that we must always give Manchester United stick for having the ability to have a player that has trained, practiced nearly all his life about putting the ball in the correct area?\u2019<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Southampton\t<\/div>
The Gunners need to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wright questioned why Arsenal wouldn\u2019t make use of the qualities possessed by Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes, who’ve combined to torment opposition defences this season.<\/p>\n

\u2018Declan Rice when he\u2019s putting the ball in, Bukayo Saka when he\u2019s putting the ball in\u2026 do you’re thinking that that\u2019s easy?\u2019 he went on.<\/p>\n

\u2018Persons are using as much as they will in respects of the margins that it\u2019s costing to attempt to win games now that set-pieces have turn into an enormous a part of the sport.<\/p>\n

\u2018It may not be an enormous a part of the sport years ago but if you\u2019ve now got players who’re able to putting the ball into areas where any person else can make the most, like Gabriel Magalhaes for Arsenal, then you definitely\u2019re going to do it since it\u2019s a way of scoring a goal.\u2019<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n
\n

Has the criticism of Arsenal’s approach been unfair?<\/h3>\n
\n
\n

Enroll to In The Mixer, your guide to the week in football. Exclusive evaluation, FPL suggestions and transfer talk \u2013 join, it\u2019s an open goal.<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

In accordance with Wright, Arsenal\u2019s second-highest goalscorer in history, fans \u2018underestimate\u2019 the work that goes into refining set-pieces on the training ground.<\/p>\n

\u2018Remember the skill element. Gabriel Magalhaes has got to lose a person, Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka have gotten to place it [in the right area],\u2019 he continued.<\/p>\n

\u2018People underestimate the quantity of labor that goes into attempting to get these set-pieces right.<\/p>\n

\u2018It means a lot to win games, win points on this league, that you’re going to take any margin to get it done.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arsenal return to Champions League motion on Tuesday night in what guarantees to be an intriguing quarter-final first leg against Sporting in Lisbon.<\/p>\n

The Gunners then have just 4 days before attentions turn back to Premier League matters, with Arteta\u2019s men playing host to Bournemouth in Saturday\u2019s lunchtime kick-off.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
\nFacebook<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: William Gallas tells Mikel Arteta to exchange two Arsenal stars to assist Viktor Gyokeres<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Arsenal handed major injury boost ahead of Sporting clash<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Ray Parlour tells Mikel Arteta to eliminate Arsenal\u2019s \u2018deadwood\u2019 after shock FA Cup defeat<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tComment now<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg><\/span>
\n\t\t\tComments<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source<\/span>
\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n
\n
\n

Football Newsletter \u2013 In The Mixer<\/h4>\n

Punchy evaluation, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n