Wright wrong? Predicts Arsenal mass exodus

Former Arsenal legend Ian Wright fears a mass exodus from the Emirates Stadium next summer and predicted the best Arsenal can hope for is a sixth or seventh place finish.

Even Arsene Wenger threw in the towel after suffered a 2-1 defeat on Sunday against Tottenham - their fourth defeat in seven Premier League games.

“At the moment we have to set ourselves a realistic target to get in touch with those teams who are fighting to stay in the Champions League,” Wenger told reporters after being outplayed at White Hart Lane.

He said: “To say we will win the league is not realistic. We are 12 points behind Manchester United and Manchester City so it is not realistic today to say that we will win the league.

“We have to fight to come back into a much better position.”

Spurs moved to sixth while Arsenal languish in 15th just above relegation zone after the North London derby.

Ironically thhe last time Arsenal finished below Spurs was the 1994-95 season. Wright scored 18 goals that season but Arsenal had to settle for 12th place while Tottenham were seventh.

He predict Spurs to take fourth spot to mark a return to the Champions League and deny Arsenal who have never missed out playing in Europe in the 15 years Wenger has been in charge.

A sixth or seventh place in the Premier League may not even be enough to guarantee Arsenal a place in the Europa League but that’s probably the highest Arsenal can finish, said Wright in his column in 'The Sun' (https://bit.ly/rtqXm2).

Echoing Wenger’s comments, he said: “Anything more than that would be unrealistic. It would be asking far too much from an inexperienced team which is clearly in transition.”

Wright also felt there was too much pressure on skipper Robin van Persie who got his 100th goal for Arsenal when he scored a double against Bolton.

“I think it is unlikely he will sign a new contract and may leave - and no one could blame him,” he says also predicting a mass exodus next summer.

He laid the blame on Wenger for Arsenal’s predicament without calling for his removal.

“It’s all very well Wenger going on about decisions and then getting angry at the end at Spurs but he cannot blame anyone over the final result,” he said.

However, he urged the new young guns to rally and repose the faith Wenger has placed in them.

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