Following Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League, Rio Ferdinand shared some strong opinions that stirred reactions among Arsenal supporters and ex-players.
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Covering the match for TNT Sports, Ferdinand was joined by Martin Keown and presenter Laura Woods, an Arsenal supporter.
During their discussion, Ferdinand critiqued Arsenal’s performance, particularly their lack of creativity in the final third, leading to an awkward exchange with Keown, who defended his former club.
Keown voiced his support for Arsenal, stating, “I don’t think there’s a massive crisis for Arsenal. I don’t think they’re that far away from getting it right.” Ferdinand disagreed, responding, “No one’s trying to put Arsenal away, Martin, we’re just stating facts.”
Turning to Woods, he added, “Why are Arsenal people so touchy? I don’t understand, why is that? No one’s having a dig.” Ferdinand highlighted Arsenal’s limited creativity and clinical edge, noting their high cross count without yielding results, a recurrent issue he believes they need to address to thrive in Europe.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s penalty secured the win for Inter Milan, leaving Arsenal with missed chances and frustrations. Ferdinand’s critique centered on Arsenal’s need for better movement and creativity near the goal, underscoring areas where he believes they can improve if they hope to compete against Europe’s elite.
