Former Arsenal player turned pundit Ian Wright warns Mikel Arteta to be cautious about the in-form Tottenham Hotspur star Richarlison
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has warned Mikel Arteta about the threat posed by Richarlison when Tottenham Hotspur faces the Gunners in the upcoming north London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The 26-year-old forward suffered from off-field issues, as he revealed after the international break.
Richarlison had a disappointing debut season at Tottenham after moving from Everton in June 2022 for a fee of £50 million upfront (plus £10m in add-ons) on a five-year contract.
The former Everton striker is unable to replicate the form that he once used to show on a weekly basis at Goodison Park. However, he has won over a lot of fans following his contributions to Spurs’ 2-1 victory over Sheffield United.
In that match, he scored a goal and also provided an assist in the dying minutes of the game. This marks only his second Premier League goal for Tottenham.
The impressive last-minute goal made him an instant hero and would certainly help him get back to his best shape ahead of the game against the Gunners.
Pundit Wright believes this confidence is crucial for him to succeed. He has also warned Arteta that the Brazilian ace could be a problem for the home side this Sunday.
While talking to Optus Sport (as quoted by Football London), the former Arsenal player said:
“You’re looking at a team now that is a very confident and a player up front who if he can now throw in 10, 12 goals which he’s easily capable of doing, Richarlison now his head’s clear and everything – they’re going to cause people problems.”
Everyone knows that Richarlison is an immensely talented footballer. With his ability to operate in various attacking positions, a strong work ethic, and the capacity to score both with his feet and head, he is undoubtedly a top-tier player.
However, despite his sublime skills, his tenure at Tottenham has not yielded the expected results for reasons not entirely clear.
However, the Spurs star’s impressive performance as a substitute against Sheffield should boost his confidence significantly, setting the stage for an exciting opportunity in the North London Derby.
Scoring a goal against Arsenal in this match could quickly push the 26-year-old ace to hero status among Tottenham fans.
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It remains to be seen whether the South American ace will be successful in helping the Lilywhites end their 13-year-long winless streak at the Emirates on Sunday.
