Rio Ferdinand has warned Arsenal that they must halt their losing run in the Premier League when they take on Manchester United, saying the team need to implement a ‘mentality shift’.
The Gunners lost at home to Leicester City on Sunday thanks to a solitary goal from substitute Jamie Vardy, while they were also beaten by Liverpool and Manchester City recently meaning they have picked up just three points from the last 12 available.
Ferdinand believes previous Arsenal teams have collapsed in the past and, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford, has called on Mikel Arteta’s new-look side to show their mettle.
‘They’ve been having a party since Partey signed. Reality hits home now,’ said the former centre-back on his FIVE YouTube channel.
‘They’ve got to respond. I’ve said it about Everton and I’m going to say the same thing about Arsenal: it’s how you respond to these situations.
‘Too many times in the past Arsenal have not responded in these situations and have gone on runs losing games and they drift away. They can’t have that happen this season.
‘I think Arteta has been a breathe of fresh air at the Emirates. This is now a big time to say to the boys: “Listen, you’ve lost, that’s it, we move on”.
Ferdinand was also full of praise for Leicester’s – and Vardy’s – performance against Arsenal, continuing: ‘That’s 11 goals in 10 starts against Arsenal. Wow. The guy’s on fire, they don’t know what to do.
‘As a sub, everyone would have been rubbing their hands saying: “Oh my god, we’re not going to get beat by Leicester today their man goalscorer is on the bench”. He comes on, 20 minutes later, bang, have that.
‘Arsenal missed opportunities but, I was reading up, before Sunday night Arsenal were unbeaten in their last 27 home games. So this is one that you thought, “I fancy them”.
‘Leicester under Brendan Rodgers though, they’re a team I feel play fantastic football but they know exactly how to play under their manager. And what instructions he puts out, they go out and perform it.
‘They’ve got players there who make impact, Under, the new Turkish boy, comes on and assists straight away for Vardy.’
