Arsenal legend Ian Wright has warned Mikel Arteta that Richarlison could cause the Gunners ‘problems’ when Tottenham Hotspur visit for Sunday’s north London derby.
The 26-year-old will head to Emirates Stadium this weekend on a high after helping Spurs to a 2-1 win over Sheffield United. Richarlison scored once and assisted a goal in his 10-minute cameo against the Blades. It was only his second goal in the Premier League for Tottenham.
Richarlison endured an extremely disappointing debut season at Spurs after leaving Everton in June 2022. Tottenham paid an upfront £50m, rising up to £60m, to sign the Brazilian on a five-year contract. Yet he only scored once through his 27 top-flight outings during 2022/23.
Ryan Mason saw Richarlison finally open his account in north London this April whilst Spurs’ interim manager. The Nova Venecia native scored in stoppage-time at Anfield to draw level at 3-3. Yet Diogo Jota went down the other end and secured Liverpool a dramatic 4-3 win.
Injuries and struggling to hold down a starting role under Antonio Conte, Cristian Stellini or Mason helped hold Richarlison back. He only opened 12 Premier League games last season. But Harry Kane joining Bayern Munich has helped Richarlison out under Ange Postecoglou.
Richarlison has already started three of his five appearances so far this term having played in each of Tottenham’s Premier League fixtures yet. The 46-cap Selecao star also started and scored in the EFL Cup at Fulham. But the Cottagers won their second-round tie on penalties.
Richarlison admits off-the-field issues have affected him at Tottenham
Form and confidence have often escaped the attacker since he left Everton. Richarlison also revealed over the September international break that off-the-field issues have affected him.
“On the field, I’m a happy team player,” Richarlison noted, via quotes by Globo. “I try to help as much as possible. Sometimes, things don’t go the way we want. I think this part is a bit of the off-field side that ended up getting in my way.
“Even though you want to do things right, it ends up going wrong. I will continue to focus on the club – the storm has passed. I went through a turbulent time in the last five months off the field. Now, things are right at home.
“People who only had an eye on my money walked away from me. Now, things will start to flow. I’m sure I’ll get a good run at Tottenham and make things happen again.”
Ian Wright warns Mikel Arteta of Richarlison’s threat vs Arsenal
That run started with his goal and an assist against Sheffield United that secured Spurs a 2-1 win over the Blades. Now, Wright has warned Arteta that Richarlison could pose an issue for Arsenal when Tottenham travel to Emirates Stadium in the north London derby this Sunday.
“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,” Wright told Optus Sport.
“He seems to have stopped the noise in his head. The manager’s given him time out of it and brought him in and eased him into [it] and now he feels more at ease.”
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