Rio Ferdinand slams Arsenal stars’ lack of leadership
Rio Ferdinand criticizes the Arsenal stars’ lack of leadership as their grip on the title slipped last month and recalls how Keane and Neville’s glee with a draw at BOLTON pushed Man United to victory in 2003
- Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge came crashing down after a 3-0 defeat to Brighton
- The Gunners were eight points clear at one point for terrible form
- Rio Ferdinand claimed that a lack of leadership was the reason for their collapse
Rio Ferdinand has questioned the leadership of Arsenal’s stars after their Premier League title fight imploded.
Mikel Arteta’s side spent most of the season in pole position to clinch the title, spending 245 days at the top of the league table.
However, their form has slipped in recent weeks as they took just nine points from their last seven games and their challenge collapsed on Sunday as they were beaten 3-0 by Brighton.
It leaves the Gunners four points behind Manchester City with a game more, meaning City can win the league this weekend if they beat Chelsea.
Ferdinand won six titles with Manchester United during his time at Old Trafford from 2002 to 2014, including one in his debut season.
Rio Ferdinand questioned Arsenal’s leadership after their title challenge imploded
They spent 245 days in first place and led Man City by eight points just a few months ago
But in that 2002-03 campaign they found themselves in fierce battle with Arsene Wenger’s Gunners side who would become Invincibles the following season.
And the former defender, speaking on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand presents FIVEreflected on his own experiences in title races with United and beat Arsenal’s main men.
He said: ‘The first time I won the league well, we drew at Bolton and the team we were chasing was Arsenal and they won that weekend.
“I sat in the locker room and thought we threw it out man. I sat on the floor my shoulders slumped in my chair and I sat there thinking what are we going to do man?
“And I got in the shower and I remember hearing Roy Keane and Gary Neville say ‘ah it’s a great point. What a point that is. It’s a tough place to get to, we’re going next week and going again, this is a good point”.
“And my whole vibe changed, my body language, everything changed.”
After the disappointing draw with Bolton in February that year, United won nine of their last 10 games as they guided the Gunners to the title by five points.
Ferdinand reflected on his own experiences in title races, including a disappointing 1–1 draw against Bolton in 2003 before United recaptured their form and took Arsenal to the league
He wondered if Arsenal’s leaders were reassuring their young side when they dropped points
Ferdinand explained how his teammates’ encouragement gave him a huge boost, but he doubted anything similar had happened with Mikel Arteta’s side.
After leading by eight points at the start of April, they played three consecutive games against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton before losing to title rivals Manchester City.
Ferdinand continued: ‘Was anyone doing that (cheering on teammates) in the dressing room at Arsenal after games against West Ham, Southampton, Liverpool?
“Was anyone in that dressing room going to that young team, young players, all those inexperienced players who haven’t been anywhere near titles.
“Did anyone go – “Listen, woah woah woah 2-2 at Anfield is a big result for us. Where have they been for the last three or four years, what have they done?”
“This is not an idiotic team, they have won big trophies over the years. So listen, come out of their head with your head held high and go again.”
The Gunners now close the season with an away game at Nottingham Forest before hosting Wolves on the final day.
