Rio Ferdinand has predicted Arsenal’s assault on the Premier League title could be disrupted by one team – and it isn’t Manchester City
Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has identified the team that could collapse Arsenal’s run to Premier League glory. And while Manchester City may be the stiffest competition for the title itself, they’re not the outfit he thinks could derail the whole affair.
Mikel Arteta’s side, who won 3-2 at the Vitality Stadium in January, remain nine points in front of Pep Guardiola’s City as league play resumes this weekend. However, City old one game in hand, which would reduce that gap to just six points assuming they win it.
There’s also the small matter of a direct conflict between Arsenal and City at the Etihad Stadium on April 19. Bearing all that in mind, Ferdinand placed a special emphasis on Saturday’s home game against Bournemouth as a potential deal-breaker.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Old Trafford legend said: “This isn’t a slight at Arsenal and their players but at this moment it’s about who deals with the pressure best and experience counts for a lot.
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“Man City have that so if they get within touching distance of Arsenal you guys are going to be in trouble because there’s been a momentum shift. They know this walk, they’ve walked this path too many times.
“Arsenal have walked it and finished runners-up so they don’t know the winning element of this, they’re still trying to get there. This is where Mikel Arteta will earn his money. It’s not easy, I’m not saying it is, this is a difficult period of the season for Arsenal.
“They’ve got Bournemouth at the weekend and that’s a tough game, if you don’t win that game… wow. And then you’ve got an in-form Man City the week after? It could be goodnight.”
City benefit from having already defeated Arsenal in last month’s League Cup final. That result will grant Guardiola’s men confidence as will their recent 4-0 mauling of Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
However, it’s worth noting City won just one of their five games prior to that. Real Madrid knocked them out of the Champions League following a pair of home-and-away losses, while they also drew consecutive league outings against West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
As Ferdinand mentioned, the name of the game now is standing up to pressure in such a privileged position. Arsenal travel to face Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, after which all attention turns back to securing their cushion in the title race.
“Arsenal have a decent run-in, are nine points clear and have one of the less fancied teams in the quarter-finals of the Champions League,” added Ferdinand. “If someone had told you Arsenal would be in that position at this stage of the season with seven games to go, you would have bitten their arm off.”
The six-time Premier League champion went on to note how Arsenal’s confidence may have understandably dipped following the League Cup final loss. And Ferdinand believes City are on an upwards curve at the worst possible moment from a Gunners perspective.
“I think Man City can smell blood,” he added. “I thought the cup final was massive for City because if they won the momentum shift could be a big factor in the run-in.
“Then Arsenal get beat in the FA Cup and confidence is lowered again. If they win their game in hand it’s down to six points and then they get to play Arsenal at home…I don’t know, man, it makes it very difficult for Arsenal. They’re a dangerous animal now, City, and have the experience on Arsenal.”
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Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals where they face Sporting CP on April 7. Fans can watch the game for free with an Amazon Prime subscription or 30-day trial.
