Arsenal battled to a narrow 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, with Mikel Merino’s well-timed header sealing the victory. Yet, despite the win, Arsenal legend Ian Wright didn’t shy away from calling out two Chelsea players — Christopher Nkunku and Robert Sanchez — for their roles in the decisive moment.
Chelsea, managed by Enzo Maresca, suffered their third loss in five Premier League games, raising further concerns about their defensive weaknesses and lack of structure. The only goal came in the 20th minute when Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard connected with a header that deflected off Sanchez and went in — a goal that exposed flaws in Chelsea’s defense, especially Nkunku’s poor positioning at the near post.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Wright dissected the goal and was quick to highlight Nkunku’s mistake. “Yes, it’s a brilliant header, but we have to look at Nkunku’s lack of awareness. The manager trusted him to be in that position for a reason, and he completely abandoned his role. That error cost Chelsea big time,” Wright stated.
He went on to explain that although Merino made a smart run, his chance to score was made easier because of Nkunku’s lapse. “Merino’s movement was excellent, but if Nkunku had done his job properly, that header doesn’t happen. It’s disappointing to see such a basic defensive mistake,” Wright added.
Wright also criticized Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for failing to deal with the header effectively. According to Wright, “Sanchez should have done much better. He was caught out of position and looked uncertain. At this level, you can’t get away with that kind of goalkeeping.”
Further breaking down Nkunku’s error, Wright pointed out how the forward was distracted by another Arsenal player and failed to stick to his defensive assignment. “He’s there to do a job, and instead, he got dragged out of position. If he had held his ground, he probably would have stopped the goal.”
Wright also mentioned that the absence of key Chelsea attackers — like Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Noni Madueke — hurt their performance. Without them, Chelsea looked flat and struggled to create chances. “They were toothless without those guys. The game could’ve been very different if they were on the pitch,” Wright observed.
While Arsenal deserved their win, Wright expressed disappointment in Chelsea’s performance, particularly their lack of fight. “Arsenal earned that win, but Chelsea didn’t show enough. I expected them to put up more of a challenge,” he said.
Chelsea’s defensive issues have been a recurring problem this season, and this match only highlighted them again. Wright emphasized how critical focus and discipline are in big matches. “Against top teams like Arsenal, you can’t switch off for a second — and Chelsea did, which is why they got punished,” he warned.
Although Nkunku has been one of Chelsea’s standout attackers this season, Wright stressed that he needs to improve defensively to become a complete player under Maresca. As for Sanchez, Wright suggested that if his inconsistent performances continue, Chelsea may need to consider alternatives in goal.
With more tough matches coming up, Maresca has little time to fix these defensive flaws if Chelsea hopes to keep their top-four hopes alive. Sorting out the backline and ensuring more confident goalkeeping will be crucial to their success.
On the flip side, Arsenal’s win keeps them firmly in the title race, showing once again their defensive strength and clinical edge under Mikel Arteta. While Chelsea is left to figure out what went wrong, Arsenal moves forward with growing belief in their title credentials.
Ultimately, this result leaves Chelsea facing serious questions, while Arsenal builds momentum. Ian Wright’s sharp critique only underscores the urgency for Maresca to address his team’s ongoing issues.