Arsenal legend Ian Wright has admitted that he is “jealous and frightened” of the transfer business conducted by Tottenham this summer.
The £60m signing of Brazil international Richarlison from Everton has been the most eye-catching transfer of a busy summer transfer window so far for Spurs, who have seen four players join their first-team squad.
Holding midfielder Yves Bissouma has joined in a £26million from Brighton while experienced wide player Ivan Perisic has arrived following the expiration of his contract at Italian giants Inter, while Fraser Forster has joined as a backup goalkeeper after leaving Southampton. Midfielder Pape Matar Sarr has also joined the first-team squad for the first time after his loan spell at Metz ended.
It is unlikely that Spurs are going to stop there, with several more additions expected in Antonio Conte’s squad including a loan deal for Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet. Spurs are hopeful of building on their top four finish last term and return to Champions League football.
Arsenal have been busy too; Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Marquinhos have all been signed by the Gunners this summer to date in a transfer outlay nearing £90million, in the aftermath of Mikel Arteta’s side narrowly missing out on a top four berth.
Former Arsenal star and club legend Wright has now admitted that he is concerned by the business that has been carried out at Spurs, believing that they are capable of strengthening their grip on a Champions League spot in the Premier League.
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Wright explained on the Wrighty's House podcast : "I feel Tottenham are going to cause problems. You can’t not be jealous of that summer, especially coming from the other side of North London. They are frightening, man. Everything we are doing at Arsenal, and I am putting on as my armour. But we have done this. We have Vieira. We have two No10s now. And we are still trying for [Youri] Tielemans. And we have Gabriel Jesus.
"So, you are trying to arm yourself because the Tottenham fans are saying, 'Well, we have Bissouma now, Richarlison, [Harry] Kane, then [Rodrigo] Bentancur is going to kick in and we have seen what [Cristian] Romero is about'. When you look at how Tottenham can flex when they are doing it under this manager, it kind of makes me feel s***."
Arsenal had appeared to be destined to secure a top four finish last season as they led Spurs by five points with just three rounds of action remaining, but a North London derby loss was followed up by a damaging loss at Newcastle which sealed the fate of Arteta’s side.
