Ian Wright left Arsenal in 1998 as a club legend – but he could have been public enemy number one had he got his way two years earlier.
A firm fan favourite with the red half of north London, some supporters may have forgotten the iconic striker handing in a transfer request in his attempt to force through a move away.
Wright and ex-Arsenal boss Bruce Rioch never got on during their time together at HighburyShutterstock EditorialIn a transfer that would have sent shock waves around the Premier League, the 61-year-old was keen on a switch to join Arsenal’s rivals Chelsea.
You only need to ask Gooners what they think of academy graduate Ashley Cole after he made the move from Arsenal to Chelsea in 2006.
Wright grew frustrated at Highbury following repeated arguments with new boss Bruce Rioch, who replaced George Graham in the dugout in 1995.
It was Graham who brought Wright to his boyhood club from Crystal Palace in 1991, where they won the FA Cup, League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup together.
Having enjoyed a special bond with Graham, his relationship with Rioch was the polar opposite, while he was also played out of position on the wing on occasion.
Rioch also rubbed Wright up the wrong way by referring to him as ‘Charlie Big Potatoes’.
While the centre-forward became increasingly exasperated after Rioch declared that his former striker John McGinlay at Bolton would have scored a chance that Wright spurned.
His anger culminated in March 1996 when he put in a transfer request amid interest from Chelsea.
Speaking at the time, Wright said: “I am not happy any more. There have been certain things that have happened this season which hurt me.
“You don’t decide to walk out on a great club like Arsenal in an afternoon.
Wright was willing to join Arsenal’s rivals Chelsea after falling out with RiochShutterstock Editorial Rioch only lasted one season in north London after replacing GrahamPA:Press Association“I have spent ages tormenting myself over what to do for the best. The bottom line is that I have not been happy for some time now.”
His desire to leave prompted Chelsea’s then-manager Glenn Hoddle to say: “If Arsenal say Wright is available we would be interested.
“But if they say he must stay we will respect that decision.”
Arsenal went public in confirming Wright’s request – which they instantly rejected – as the club’s managing director Ken Friar remarked: “The board have advised Ian they are not prepared to grant his request for a transfer, which he made recently.
“This was a unanimous decision of the board and the manager.
“Ian’s contribution to the club’s success has been considerable over recent years, and we are sure that, as a true professional, it will continue to be so throughout the remainder of his contract.
“We all very much wish him to stay.”
Wright spent seven trophy-laden seasons at Arsenal before departing in 1998Wright later insisted that he will ‘see what happens at the end of the season’, as he continued to voice his displeasure over Rioch to then-vice-chairman David Dein.
With Wright still unhappy at the club, the decision was made to part ways with Rioch after just one season.
Rioch had secured UEFA Cup football after sealing fifth spot – up seven places from the 1994/95 season – while improving their goal difference by 14, as well as conceding the fewest goals in the division [32].
But he was still shown the door after 431 days in charge, which remains the club’s shortest permanent managerial spell since William Elcoat departed in 1899.
Arsenal turned to the relatively unknown Arsene Wenger, who guided Monaco to Ligue 1 glory in 1988.
And with his appointment came the love for the game that Wright had been missing under Rioch’s tutelage – scoring 23 top-flight goals in the 1996/97 term – eight more than he managed the previous campaign.
Rioch would never manage in the Premier League again after being dismissed at ArsenalWright would finally lift the Premier League title the following campaign, while also winning his second FA Cup, before he left in 1998.
At the time of his exit, he was Arsenal’s leading top scorer with 185 goals in 288 matches in all competitions – a record since broken by Thierry Henry.
But it could have been all different for Wright – and Arsenal – had they decided to keep Rioch at the helm.
Commenting on his failed move to Chelsea to BBC Radio 5 Live in 2020, Wright said: “Yes [I could have joined Chelsea], under Glenn Hoddle.
“It was that year that I had with Bruce Rioch that was a real tough one.
Wright would help Arsenal win the league title under Wenger two years after Rioch’s axingShutterstock Editorial“After Bruce Rioch came in, after the first year, we literally argued every day and I thought I should just leave, as there was no way Arsenal were going to get rid of him and something was going to happen between us.
“So I put that transfer request in, they refused it, it all went up in the air and in the end I was in touch with Chelsea.
“It would have been a big mistake for me to leave at that stage with everything that happened with me at Arsenal.
“I ended up winning the league, got the top goal-scorer in Arsenal’s history before, obviously, Thierry broke it. It wouldn’t have been a good way to leave.
“I know, down the years, many people have left football clubs because they haven’t been able to get on with the manager.
“I have just got to give thanks to the likes of David Dein, and the Arsenal board, at the time, who realised that, for me, [appointing Rioch] was a mistake.
“It wasn’t working out. I was very vocal in that and a lot of the other players were vocal when it suited them.
“I didn’t mind letting him know what I felt and in the end he went.”
While Arsenal went on to become Invincibles under Wenger, Rioch would never manage in the Premier League again after his dismissal.
And for Wright, his legacy amongst Arsenal’s fans remains intact.
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