The Premier League is back, and Arsenal take on Wolves in the opening game of the new season.
The Gunners have had a good pre-season. They played three games in the United States and two in North London in the Emirates Cup.
The preparations for the first game of the new campaign are underway, and Ian Wright has predicted that Arsenal will win the Premier League title.
However, the Gunners legend feels two players need to deliver after failing to impress in the 2023/24 season.
Ian Wright wants Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli to step up for Arsenal
On paper, Arsenal have a phenomenal attack.
The Gunners have players across the frontline who are capable of scoring regularly, and many of them have proven their class in the famous red and white.
Arsenal fell two points short of winning the Premier League title last season, and many feel the reason for that is lack of goals up top.
Two of the biggest underperformers were Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.
Both players managed just eight goals in all competitions in the 2023/24 season, which is not good enough considering how much quality the two Brazilians possess.
Wright wants Martinelli and Jesus to step up in the upcoming campaign.
He said on the Stick to Football podcast: “Martinelli and Jesus, if they can get the goals we expect them to get – they themselves will say they didn’t have a great season.
“If they can get the goals and get the consistency that we’re going to need, we’ll probably can get the goals from what we’ve got.”
Roy Keane then asked Wright why he thinks Jesus and Martinelli can step up this season when they seriously underperformed last time out.
Wright replied: “Because they are better than they showed last season, both of them are. For me, they are, both of them are better than they showed.”
READ MORE: Ian Wright gives verdict on bizarre Mikel Arteta training method at Arsenal
Why 2024/25 will be different for Martinelli and Jesus
Jesus and Martinelli both struggled with injuries last season.
The former Manchester City man, however, looks fitter and sharper than ever now, and his performances in pre-season were really impressive.
Martinelli came back in great shape too and looked excellent against Manchester United. He impressed in the game against Lyon in the Emirates Cup too.
Furthermore, Arsenal are expected to add a new midfielder this summer – someone left-footed who will finally fill the void left by Granit Xhaka over a year ago.
That will surely help Martinelli, who scored 15 goals in the Premier League when he last had Xhaka’s support on that side of the pitch.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
