Ian Wright's greatest Arsenal moments
Ian Wright's greatest Arsenal moments
By Jack Lacey-Hatton
Few players are held in higher regard with Arsenal fans than Ian Wright.
The legendary striker recently became the fourth Arsenal alumni, after Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, to enter the Premier League Hall of Fame.
A forward who had everything, pace, trickery, athleticism and deadly finishing ability, Wright wasn’t just loved because he put the ball in the net.
It was the way he played, a street footballer with attitude, who could outwork and out-battle the best defences in the country.
Wrighty’s relationship with the North Bank faithful was a joy to watch, as he hit 185 goals in all competitions during a seven-year stay at Highbury.
It’s hard to boil such an amazing career down to just a handful of highlights but we’ve tried. Here are four of his greatest moments in a Gunners’ shirt.
A Dream Debut v Leicester City
It would be wrong not to highlight the one moment Wright pinpointed himself as the best of his Arsenal career.
Earlier this year on Strikers’ Union show the former number 8 said scoring on his debut was his most treasured memory from his time at Arsenal.
Wright himself mentioned the scepticism amongst the Arsenal supporters when he first signed, for a club record £2.5million, from Crystal Palace in September 1991 and felt the need to hit the ground running.
His first game was a League Cup tie away at Leicester City, in front of a hostile Filbert Street crowd who were booing him from the off.
But Wright silenced the doubters with a curling shot from just outside the area to put the Gunners 1-0 up, making the perfect start to what would become a remarkable spell at the club.
Breaking the record v Bolton Wanderers
‘179 - Just Done It.’
Every Arsenal fan can probably remember where they were when Wright became, at the time, the club record goalscorer against Bolton at Highbury.
A stunning hat-trick first levelled then beat the previous record, Cliff Bastin’s 178 goals, on a sunny day in front of a jubilant capacity crowd.
The goals were all classic Wright finishes but his celebration, revealing the famous t-shirt underneath his Arsenal shirt before collapsing to the Highbury turf only to be mobbed by his teammates, just added to the spectacle on one of the most memorable days at the famous old ground.
Although Thierry Henry would later eclipse Wright’s total, it still brings back magical memories to watch the footage of that day all these years later.
The joy on his face when finding the net encapsulated the love Wright had for the Arsenal, and what it meant to him to officially become the greatest goalscorer in club history.
For a player to break the all-time club goalscoring record, after only joining at the age of 27, is a staggering achievement that probably doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.
A unique wondergoal v Everton
One of Wright’s greatest strengths as a forward, was his versatility, that he could score all types of goals.
With some strikes, it was about his individuality as though only he could score them, particularly goals that combined technical brilliance with strength and power.
Wright’s goal against Everton in August 1993 is a perfect example.
Underneath a long downfield punt from David Seaman, Wright managed to control the ball mid-air, juggle on the ball on either foot and torment Toffees defender Matt Jackson.
He then produced a delicate chip on the bounce with only his third touch, leaving Neville Southall rooted and the ball in the back of the net.
For technical difficulty alone, this was Wright’s best goal in an Arsenal shirt.
Cup final heroics v Sheffield Wednesday
Wright always had a special relationship with the FA Cup final. He first cemented his name in English football’s conscious with two goals after coming on as a substitute in the 1990 final playing for Crystal Palace.
Three years later he was back at Wembley, this time in an Arsenal shirt for the final against Sheffield Wednesday.
Wright’s poacher instincts opened the scoring in the showpiece final, when he headed in a cross in the 20th minute.
But Wednesday were stubborn opponents, and David Hirst’s 61st minute equaliser saw the game end 1-1.
Back then finals went to a replay if the tie was drawn, so the two headed back to Wembley five days later to settle the outcome.
And despite the extra game Wright would not be denied, again getting on the scoresheet after a superb finish chipping Chris Woods, following a sublime pass from Alan Smith.
Arsenal eventually lifted the cup after a 2-1 win that night, with Wright becoming the first player since Glenn Hoddle in 1982, and only the fifth in history, to score in both the original final and the replay.
Congratulations Wrighty! Your entry into the Premier League Hall of Fame is well overdue. Next up a statue at the Emirates stadium?
Photo credit: Getty Images
