December 18th 2024.
Arsenal and Chelsea, two fierce London rivals, have a long history of competing for new players. One such player was Shaun Wright-Phillips, who almost followed in the footsteps of his famous father Ian Wright by signing for Arsenal. At the time, Wright-Phillips had made a name for himself at Manchester City and was highly sought after by top clubs in the Premier League.
It seemed like a natural fit for Wright-Phillips to join Arsenal, as their stadium, Highbury, was synonymous with his father's success. However, things didn't go according to plan as Arsene Wenger's indecision caused a delay in the transfer. Wright-Phillips himself revealed that there was an opportunity to join Arsenal, but Wenger wanted to wait until January, while City needed the transfer to happen immediately to avoid financial troubles.
If Wenger had made the move sooner, Wright-Phillips could have been playing under his management instead of joining Chelsea and their manager at the time, Jose Mourinho. It was a crucial moment in his career, and Wright-Phillips often wonders how things would have turned out if he had signed for Arsenal.
His father, Ian Wright, was also excited about the prospect of his son joining Arsenal, but he just wanted the deal to be done quickly. Wright had always taught his son to strike while the iron was hot, as anything could happen in football. Despite his excitement, Wright-Phillips himself remained calm and collected, much to his father's surprise.
Looking back, Wright-Phillips considers the move to Chelsea a "sliding doors" moment in his career. However, he has no regrets and is grateful for the opportunity to play under Mourinho.
Now, as a retired player and a football analyst, Wright-Phillips has been keeping an eye on Arsenal's current young talent, Bukayo Saka. The former winger rates Saka highly and believes he is already one of the top five players in his position to have played in the Premier League.
Wright-Phillips has been impressed by Saka's consistency and ability to make an impact on the game, even on his off days. He believes that Saka's versatility and determination make him a valuable asset for Arsenal, and fans always want to see players who perform consistently season after season.
In Wright-Phillips' opinion, Saka's potential is limitless, and he is excited to see how the young winger will continue to develop and contribute to the Arsenal team. Even on a quiet day, Saka can still make a difference with his goal-scoring and assist-making abilities, which sets him apart from other players in his position.
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