Chelsea’s performance against Arsenal impressed Ian Wright, so much so that he laid out how close they are to a Premier League title.
Wright will have thought his team were in for a straightforward afternoon following Moises Caicedo’s 38th-minute dismissal.
It was anything but.
The display deserves all the plaudits it has received since. Enzo Maresca played down the title significance of the Arsenal match, but Chelsea’s performance, a man down, was a statement.
The big moment of the first half…
The Blues are hungry for a title, and Wright has his own view on how they can get there.
Ian Wright says Chelsea need three signings
Wright thinks Chelsea can contend for the title if a couple of upgrades are made.
He said as much in the aftermath of Sunday’s action on Premier League Productions’ The Weekend Wrap: “The main thing is that they’re on the right track.
“I still believe that with a top goalkeeper, two good centre-halves, one with experience, two good centre-halves, I think Chelsea are close, I think they’re pretty close, look what they did to us with 10 men.”
Wright isn’t satisfied with the spine of Chelsea’s defence by the sounds of it, and wouldn’t look at Maresca’s side as a true title threat as it stands, despite the Blues dominating his team at Stamford Bridge.
The position that Chelsea MUST strengthen in 2026 is _ _ _ _ _ _
Assessing Ian Wright’s claim
Robert Sanchez is a different keeper to the one we saw last season. The Spaniard is playing with confidence and is slowly winning over Chelsea fans with convincing performance after convincing performance.
Maresca said Sanchez had one of his best games against Arsenal, and he’s right. Maybe the narrative around the Chelsea keeper is shifting.
As for the centre-backs, Chalobah and Fofana are playing well. Chalobah matched Gabriel’s goal tally from last season with a header from a corner against Arsenal. It’s almost poetic.
Fofana is looking fit and confident, too.
A few months ago, Wright’s comments would have been considered fair by most — myself included. But credit where credit is due, they have come into their own.
Levi Colwill is a huge miss, but the deputies are starting to step up. Josh Acheampong, too, has been brilliant.
The best way to put it is, Chelsea are in a title race until they are no longer in a title race. The gap to first is five points.
Sure, some January additions would be nice, but it’s unfair to criticise what we have at this moment when it looks so solid.
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