Rio Ferdinand has sent a stern warning to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ahead of the Gunners’ crunch title showdown with Manchester City – that they should sit back at their peril.
Arsenal and City will do battle in a game that many are billing a title-decider next Sunday, after Pep Guardiola’s side closed the gap at the top of the Premier League to six points.
On the back of their Carabao Cup final defeat by City before the international break, Arsenal lost to Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, leaving the door ajar for City to move six points off their title rivals.
And they took their opportunity – dismantling Chelsea 3-0 to move within touching distance, given they still have a game in hand and a game against Arsenal to come.
All eyes will be on Sunday’s match at the Etihad, with City having a week to prepare for the game – while Arsenal will have a matter of days after they face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.
Manchester United legend Ferdinand, meanwhile, has attempted to give Arsenal a head start – by warning them not to play on the back foot.
‘If you go there and sit back like Liverpool did at PSG the other day, it’s slapsville,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents.
‘You’re getting pumped. You can’t do that. Do you win leagues doing that?’
Arsenal have become known for their defensive strength this season, but City are also relentless in attack and are the top scorers in the league this term.
Guardiola and his side, according to Ferdinand, will find it easy to pick their opponents apart – unless they do what Bournemouth did to them.
‘This is glaring, the way City set up to block all passing lanes, pressing high,’ Ferdinand added. ‘I don’t think Bournemouth went four up the pitch as glaring in exactly the same way.
‘They were great in terms of blocking passing lanes making Arsenal having to go over it or just panic a little bit and give the ball away.
‘I think, is that the blueprint? Bournemouth have copied it their own way. Mikel Arteta and his team haven’t found an answer yet.
‘It wasn’t a good performance. At least get about and put it on some players.’
Guardiola, meanwhile, has gained a reputation of leading his side to form in the final stretch of the season, and has insisted his side are in the right frame of mind to topple Arsenal in a stern warning of his own to the Gunners.
‘The hierarchy gave me the mentality of amazing players and competitive players, that is the key to success,’ Guardiola said.
‘I push them, they push me. When you arrive in the last month and a half, with one title and in the other two competitions, it’s because the team is really good. Arsenal is a final for us and for them as well.
‘The second half was extraordinary because we had the mindset. In that stage it isn’t the tactics. We know each other for a long time and the players showed a good mentality to win here which is never easy and be close to the top of the league.’
