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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

Ian Wright allays Mikel Arteta fears but snubs Arsenal as he names top four favourites

Ian Wright insists Arsenal do not have discipline difficulties despite Mikel Arteta admitting he has "run out of ideas" to stop his players getting sent off.

Gabriel Martinelli collected the Gunners' fourth red card of 2022 as he was dismissed in the second half of Thursday night's narrow 1-0 victory over Wolves.

Highbury legend Martin Keown disagreed with referee Michael Oliver's "pedantic" decision to show the Brazilian youngster two yellow cards in quick succession.

Martinelli's sending off was Arsenal's 15th in all competitions since Arteta took over in December 2019, meaning the club has racked up seven more reds than any other Premier League club.

Speaking after the match, the Gunners manager confessed he is at a loss over how to stop his players behaving rashly.

Will Arsenal finish in the top four this season? Have your say in the comments!

Gabriel Martinelli was given his marching orders for two quick-fire yellow cards (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Wright does not share these concerns, however, and declared his former club do not have a "disciplinary problem".

"Yeah, 15 (red cards) sounds like a lot… well it is a lot! But at the same time, you look at them and we're not talking about players that are flying in and doing silly challenges and stuff like that," he told Premier League Productions, per Metro.

"This here was a natural reaction from him, he's gone to push him and then the next one he's fouled him. It's not malicious stuff.

"But they are red cards and hopefully it doesn't tot up to end up costing them.

"Yeah, 15 is a lot, but I wouldn't say there is a disciplinary problem. I think that's what people will try and say, but there isn't."

Victory at Molineux saw Arsenal nab fifth from Manchester United - who drew 1-1 at Burnley on Tuesday - and leaves them one point behind fourth-placed West Ham with two games in hand.

Wright was delighted with the display in the Midlands, adding: "They're (Arsenal are) getting into a situation where other teams are slipping up, they're starting to find a little bit of form.

Gabriel scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal went fifth (PA)

"That was a very, very good performance in respects of digging in and getting a result and now all Arsenal need to do is continue what they're doing, nick a few more goals and see if you can stay amongst it.

"There are people who are slipping up and that's all you can do. Just win your games, if it's 1-0 then it's 1-0."

However, despite Arsenal having two games in hand on the Irons, Wright still prefers David Moyes' side to secure Champions League qualification.

"I'll say West Ham are favourites because West Ham are right there," he concluded.

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