Rio Ferdinand has warned Mikel Arteta his Arsenal side will get ‘pumped’ by Manchester City in next weekend’s summit meeting if he sets up to play for a draw.
A contrasting weekend of fortunes for the top two has dramatically shifted the momentum in the favour of Pep Guardiola’s rampant chasers who underlined their intent with a dominant 3-0 win over Chelsea.
City’s performance could not have been more contrasting to the one given by the Gunners 24 hours earlier where nerves and apprehension were so clearly in evidence against Bournemouth.
Apoint next week would still keep Arsenal’s noses in front but Ferdinand believes Arteta can ill-afford to rely on the sort of defensive approach that yielded a draw two years ago when the two teams faced off in the closing stages of the 2023/24 season.
The former Manchester United defender cited abject surrender against PSG last week as evidence of what might happen to Arsenal if they attempt to copy the approach employed by Arne Slot against the Champions League holders.
Ferdinand told his YouTube channel: ‘If you go there and sit back like Liverpool did at PSG the other day it’s slapsville.
‘You’re getting pumped. You can’t do that. Do you win leagues doing that?’
Arsenal’s form has tailed off dramatically since their Carabao Cup final defeat against City last month and Ferdinand believes the onus is on Arteta to find a solution to the problems provided by the pressing systems that have blunted the attacking threat of his side in recent weeks.
‘This is glaring the way City set up block all passing lanes, pressing high,’ said Ferdinand. ‘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.’
While Arsenal are back in European action against Sporting Lisbon in midweek, City will have the benefit of a week off to prepare.
On facing Arsenal, Guardiola said: ‘We have seven days. So prepare mentally. Beating Arsenal once is difficult, they proved that all season. So to beat them twice in a margin of three weeks is even more difficult.
‘We play at home, it is a final. Relax and focus on what we need to do through that game. If you win or if you lose everybody knows.
‘We have to talk about what we have to do against a team that defends well, wins duels, attacks also with the long balls, thousand million things that they do brilliantly this season that make them the best team in England – the numbers are there – and the best team in Europe – the numbers are there. We have incredible respect.
‘I have three people in front of me here, did you bet £1 before the Carabao Cup final that we would win? No chance. You were all thinking Arsenal was going to win. We have to control that next Sunday.’