In an interview with Metro, Ian Wright expressed his hope that Arsenal would strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window and that he believes Chelsea and Arsenal are poised to compete for the title.
After a resounding victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend, Arsenal are now turning their attention to defending their league title.
Arsenal will kick off the new season on Friday with a match against newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium, hoping to set the tone for the rest of the season as early as possible.
Summer signings Cristos Zolis and Guimarães are expected to make their debuts, but Wright still hopes Arsenal can sign a few more high-profile players before the transfer window closes.
Wright said: "Arsenal still have a lot to do, and so far everything has been rather slow."
"I know the World Cup will have a big impact, but we all know how important the start of the league is, so the sooner the new players arrive, the better."
“We heard what the manager said after the Champions League final defeat. He mentioned what the club needs to move up a level, so we will hold the club to that standard.”
"The window of opportunity is right in front of us, so I hope we can close this transfer window with a stronger squad."
Arsenal will enter the new season as title favorites, but with the "Big Six" undergoing major managerial changes this summer, predicting who their closest rivals will become difficult.
Enzo Maresca, Xabi Alonso, and Andoni Iraola have taken over at Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool respectively, while Michael Carrick is preparing for his first full season in charge of Old Trafford.
Despite Chelsea finishing only tenth last season, Wright believes that with no European competition commitments, Alonso has the opportunity to quickly return Chelsea to the title race this season.
Wright said: "Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have all changed managers, which adds some unknowns to their situation."
“It’s been a huge transitional season for Manchester City: no Bernardo Silva, Stones, Guardiola and Rodri. But they still have Haaland, which can still take you far, and other issues don’t matter.”
"If Alonso gets off to a good start and can make Chelsea more solid defensively, I think they can contend for the title."
“He brought in some experienced players, and Chelsea have needed those players for some time now. Without European commitments, I can imagine they will find a good rhythm.”
When asked who else might bring surprises this season, Wright added: "I'll be watching Nottingham Forest, Oliver Glasner is already here."
“They have retained a lot of talent, Glasner is a very good coach, and they have also brought in some good new players.”
"Teams like Brighton, Bournemouth and Sunderland also have to compete in European competitions, which may drag down their performance in the league, but it will actually benefit Forest."
"Tottenham only play one game a week and they've improved a lot. They may need another goalscorer, but I expect them to rise in the league standings."
In an interview, Wright also expressed his support for Gillette's campaign to abolish the rule that players receive yellow cards for taking off their shirts to celebrate goals.
Recalling his favorite shirt-removal celebration, the Arsenal legend said: "I would choose the one against Aston Villa, when I was wearing that 'I love my teammates' T-shirt."
"That was just the beginning. We had a lot of great teamwork, and my teammates and I had a lot of fun. It was an amazing feeling. That was probably my favorite time."
“Every time I see that photo, I’m reminded of the locker room and the joy we shared together. Patrick was also starting to shine; those were truly wonderful times.”
