Ian Wright has questioned why Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka felt the need to reveal that the Gunners players were “scared” after capitulating in the second half against Watford last weekend.

The TV pundit believes speaking out in such a way will give an edge to opponents who will try to take advantage of Arsenal’s lack of backbone:

“Whether you’re scared or not, you’re gonna get a kind of pressure put on you where you’re going to be tested now. For me, it’s irresponsible for him to speak like that.”

“To hear it, it was like, “Oh my gosh, really? You had to say that?” Scared? How can you be scared on a football pitch?”

Whether that will lead to Aston Villa looking to attack more at the Emirates this afternoon, we shall have to wait and see.

Xhaka’s admission was surprisingly honest at the time but, as Wright says, it would have probably been wiser keeping that in the dressing room.

The Gunners’ mentality has been questioned numerous times over the past few years, and it is something that has to be rectified if they are to start competing at the top end of the league.

Collapses like the one against Watford cost the team points, and with so much competition for the top four, they can’t afford many slip-ups like that.