- Ian Wright insisted one top Premier League club could drop out of the top five
- It comes after he was left disappointed by the team’s performance on Sunday
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why Eddie Howe is the ‘greatest coach of his generation’
Ian Wright has claimed Chelsea could miss out on Champions League football next season following their worrying game against rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca‘s side suffered a 1-0 defeat to the second-ranked Premier League club after they saw Merino’s header after the Gunners’ corner kick netting David Raya’s goal.
Although they were behind Mikel Arteta‘s side, the Blues could not showcase a dominant performance, concluding the derby with just two shots on target.
Furthermore, Wright has expressed his belief that Chelsea could drop out of the top five positions, which gives an automatic qualification to the Champions League next season, considering the highly expected extra spot based on UEFA points.
‘I watched Chelsea against Arsenal and I thought they were really poor in every aspect,’ he said on the Kelly and Wrighty Show. ‘Obviously, they’re very much missing Noni Maduke and Nicolas Jackson and obviously, Cole Palmer didn’t play.
‘They haven’t got anyone to stretch the team or anyone to control the game so as you can pass to these players who were doing so well at the start of the season.
Ian Wright insisted Chelsea could drop out of the Champions League positions following their disappointing 1-0 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday
The Gunners icon shared his belief that Newcastle, Bournemouth or Brighton would overtake the Blues
Enzo Maresca’s side suffered three defeats in their last five Premier League games – and are out of both domestic cups
‘They didn’t look like they were going to score yesterday and there’s no way you can be confident as a defender playing in front of Robert Sanchez.’
Although Maresca’s side sit in fourth place in the Premier League, they are closely followed by Manchester City – by one point – and Newcastle – by two.
Furthermore, 10th-placed Bournemouth are only five points behind Chelsea, and Wright predicted the Cherries could overtake them.
‘There’s no way sitting here right now I can see a scenario as to how they are going to do it (get in the top five).
‘For me, if I’m Newcastle or Bournemouth or Brighton or anybody, I’m thinking this is the best chance we’ll have because I don’t think Chelsea will make it.
The Italian manager entered the international break amid high pressure from the club and fans considering the Blues’ poor form in the domestic league, with just two victories out of their five games.
In their remaining nine matches, they will face strong opposition such as Tottenham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.
A failure to qualify for the Champions League football next campaign would be devastating for Maresca’s side, who once again heavily invested in the squad during the past two transfer windows.
Fifth-placed Manchester City are just one point behind Chelsea in the Premier League standings
The Blues have yet to face tough opposition in their nine remaining games, including Liverpool, Newcastle, and Tottenham
Furthermore, whether by domestic positions or Conference League triumph, a qualification to the Europa League would not be considered enough.
Chelsea will resume after the international break with a home game against Newcastle.
In the Conference League, meanwhile, the Blues progressed to the quarter-finals, where they will face Legia Warszawa.
Maresca’s men were knocked out of both domestic cups – the FA Cup and Carabao cup – following defeats by Brighton and Newcastle respectively.
