Ian Wright says 3 changes have made a ‘massive difference’ for Arsenal from last season

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Arsenal are challenging at the top of the Premier League again, but will hope to avoid a repeat of last season’s collapse in the final two months.

Mikel Arteta’s side unexpectedly led the league for the majority of the season, but won just four of the final 10 games as they faltered and allowed Manchester City to overtake them.

After a slower start this season, Arsenal have been flying in 2024, winning all eight Premier League games and breaking records in both attack and defence.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has now claimed that he is not worried about a similar fall off, due to three key changes this season.

Ian Wright highlights Arsenal improvement ahead of title run-in

Speaking on Sky Sports Monday Night Football, the former striker claimed that the summer signings, the fitness of William Saliba and a change in mentality have all helped Arsenal, and they can avoid a similar collapse to last season.

“No, not now,” he replied when asked if he was worried about a similar collapse this season.

“I think what’s changed is David Raya, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz, three signings that have come in and made a massive difference to what’s going on.

“Mentality as well. You’ve got to say William Saliba, when he was out of the side last season, had a massive effect on the whole of our right side, but the mentality is something that the players will get something from what happened last season, because we saw those three games from Southampton Liverpool and West Ham, those three games people feel like those were the ones that cost us in at that stage.

“It probably was that mentally we couldn’t deal with it, and we should have won. I thought we could have done better at Liverpool, we should have definitely done better at West Ham and Southampton.

“I thought I would have taken the two wins out of that and a draw against Liverpool. I wasn’t expecting three draws, but the levels are that only three draws and it’s enough to take you out of the race, this is what we’re dealing with and that is why it’s so ruthless this season.”

Arsenal’s increased ruthlessness can help avoid collapse

Arsenal went 2-0 up away at Liverpool and West Ham, but went on to draw both games which started their demise in the title race.

In recent weeks, Arsenal have gone 2-0 up in away games, but continued scoring rather than sitting off. They have been far more ruthless in front of goal, and this could be significant in the race.

Declan Rice has been particularly transformative, and he has added a new level of steel at the back, alongside William Saliba, which Arsenal did not have in their run-in last season.

Arteta’s side are now much-better equipped for a title race, but there is still a long way to go in the campaign.