Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand says Eberechi Eze might be ‘key’ on this yr’s title race and has the power to ‘drag Arsenal over the road’ if given license to specific himself.
Arsenal overcame Newcastle in a decent 1-0 victory to reclaim top spot within the Premier League on the weekend, with Eze’s sublime ninth-minute strike proving decisive in front of an anxious Emirates crowd.
It was a welcome return to winning ways for the Gunners, who had slipped to second place as Manchester City edged out Burnley in midweek, fresh from beating Mikel Arteta’s men on the Etihad.
Eze had also impressed against City and hit the post with an exqusite curled strike from the sting of the box when the scoreline was still level at 1-1, following earlier efforts from Rayan Cherki and Kai Havertz.
Just moments later, Erling Haaland scored what proved to be the winning goal for City and Eze was replaced for Leandro Trossard within the 74th minute – a choice which was widely criticised after the full-time whistle, with Paul Scholes and Patrick Vieira amongst those left scratching their heads.
There was some concern as Eze was forced off with a suspected muscle problem in Saturday’s defeat of Newcastle, but the previous Crystal Palace man appears to have shaken off the injury and was pictured in training on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old midfielder will little doubt be eager to proceed his run within the side for each of Arsenal’s upcoming clashes with Atletico Madrid and Fulham within the Champions League and Premier League respectively.
Giving his thoughts on Arsenal’s title charge on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, Ferdinand backed Eze to have a serious influence – so long as Arteta allows him to ‘play with the handbrake off’.
‘ what I believe is a key thing? You’ve got to let Eze free. Let Eze go and win you the league,’ the previous Manchester United centre-back explained.
‘If Eze is let free and told to go and do it, Eze wins you lot the league right away, I’m telling you.
‘If he’s fidgeting with his handbrake half on then it’s going to long, long 90 minutes for you lot.
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‘Should you let him just roll and let him go, my man is capable, I believe, of dragging you lot over the road.’
Despite their recent setback on the Etihad, the ex-England defender backed Arsenal to ‘shift the momentum’ again and end their 22-year wait for the title this season.
‘Everyone seems to be asking me this on a regular basis and I’m going to place it right to you, I’m going to place your nerves at rest,’ he said.
Will Arsenal end their wait for the title this season?
‘I believe Arsenal are going to win it, I believe Arsenal have gotten the simpler games, barely.
‘The very fact Arsenal are going to be six points clear, I imagine, by the point Manchester City play next, I believe the facility, the shift of momentum, might just change then.
‘So I’m going to go together with you guys [Arsenal] to win the league still.’
In accordance with Ferdinand, ‘it’s Arsenal’s time’ to finally get the monkey off their back and lift the Premier League trophy after three successive runners-up finishes.
‘I believe it’s going to be difficult,’ Ferdinand, who won six league titles with Manchester United, went on.
‘I’m not sitting on the fence but I might not be surprised if City win it because they’ve got the experience, they’ve got Pep Guardiola in charge, they’ve got players that understand this run-in.
‘But I just feel it’s your time, man. It’s Arsenal’s time.’
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