Following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on Saturday, Rio Ferdinand voiced his concerns about Mikel Arteta’s tactical decisions.
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Alexander Isak’s lone goal at St. James’ Park marked Arsenal’s third consecutive game without a win, leaving the Gunners seven points behind Liverpool at the top of the table.
Arsenal’s recent injury setbacks, with key defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White sidelined, have forced Arteta into lineup adjustments.
However, Ferdinand found the positioning choices surprising, particularly with Jurrien Timber at left-back while Oleksandr Zinchenko was on the bench, and Thomas Partey deployed at right-back instead of his usual midfield role.
Ferdinand suggested that Arteta may have overcomplicated his selection, especially given Arsenal’s thin squad due to injuries.
While praising Martin Odegaard’s impact on Arsenal, he noted that Odegaard’s absence highlighted the team’s lack of creativity and urgency in goal-scoring opportunities. Ferdinand emphasized that Arsenal needs not only a proficient striker but also consistent playmaking to supply forward players.