Ferdinand criticizes Arteta for a crucial error that hurt Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes, insisting, “He should have played!”
" An Opinion given by Rio Ferdinand to Aterta about given this younger start an early start up "Ethan Nwaneri"
Arsenal has fallen short of the Premier League title in the last two seasons, with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City emerging victorious. However, this time, they face a new challenger in Liverpool, as Arne Slot’s side currently holds a seven-point lead over the Gunners with 13 matches remaining.
During September and October, Arsenal was without Martin Odegaard, and rather than replacing him with a direct substitute, Mikel Arteta opted to tweak his formation. Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes this decision could prove costly, particularly Arteta’s choice not to play Nwaneri, as Arsenal dropped seven points in Odegaard’s absence.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand argued that Arsenal could have been in a stronger position had Nwaneri been given a chance. He praised the youngster’s ability to unsettle defenses and suggested that his inclusion might have helped Arsenal secure more points.
“In hindsight, it’s easy to say, but I was calling for it back then,” Ferdinand remarked. “They were struggling to break through, so why not give him a shot? What’s the worst that could happen? Odegaard was unavailable, so he should have been put in.”
As the season nears its climax, Arsenal and Liverpool are set to face off in May in what could be a decisive fixture. Meanwhile, Liverpool has a tough run ahead with matches against Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Newcastle United. In contrast, Arsenal’s upcoming games seem more manageable, featuring West Ham, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United.
Over the weekend, Slot acknowledged that the title race is now primarily between Arsenal and Liverpool. He highlighted the relentless nature of the competition, pointing out that despite Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten run, the gap between the two sides has remained the same. Slot emphasized the need for consistency, as past seasons have often boiled down to a battle between just two teams.
