Ian Wright pleads with Mike Arteta on Arsenals’ outcasts
Ian Wright has pleaded with Arsenal manager, Mike Arteta on five players he doesn’t use saying he still needs them.
Ian Wright stated that Mikel Arteta needs to ‘manage the grey area’ as Arsenal boss in a much better fashion.
Arteta’s treatment of some players, such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Matteo Guendouzi, was mentioned by the Arsenal legend.
After spending several years under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage at Manchester City, Arteta’s first job in the spotlight came when he was handed the keys to the Emirates.
During his tenure in north London, the former midfielder has demonstrated a tough and no-nonsense approach to player management.
Arteta suspended Aubameyang as captain due to persistent discipline concerns, sent Guendouzi out on loan due to alleged attitude issues, and refused to play William Saliba despite the fact that fans thought they needed his talents in the backline.
In addition to the three players described above, Wright also cited Arteta permitting Lucas Torreira to go on loan, as well as Ainsley Maitland-Niles, despite the club’s need for legs in the middle of the park.
Arteta merely needs to ‘manage’ these situations better, according to Wright, because ‘you need’ these players.
“Mikel has come in and it’s very black and white,” said Wright. “He has to manage the grey area.
“You are talking about a midfield, at the moment, we have got Guendouzi out on loan. Torreira is out on loan. Saliba is out on loan. We just let Ainsley Maitland-Niles go on loan.
“You just mentioned Aubameyang. I think you have to manage that situation simply because you need them.
“You use the players that are contracted to the club. Look what happened with Ozil when we needed a number ten. That kind of management is something he will learn to get better at. You have to use the players.”
From the players listed, Maitland-Niles, as well as Saliba, have a good chance of playing for Arsenal next season after a long wait.
However, Aubameyang’s days appear to be numbered, whereas Torreira’s situation is just not working out.
Guendouzi, who is on loan at Marseille with Saliba, will be intriguing to see if he returns, since the Ligue 1 club has an option to buy him in the summer.
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