Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal can be ‘closer to Liverpool’ had if not been for an oversight from Mikel Arteta earlier within the season.
Arsenal have work to do in the ultimate few months of the season in the event that they are to reel in runaway leaders Liverpool and clinch their first league title since 2004.
Few tipped Liverpool to win the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield however the Reds have moved seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal with 13 games remaining.
While Arsenal are involved in a 3rd successive title challenge, Ferdinand believes they’d be even closer to Liverpool had Arteta utilised teenage star Ethan Nwaneri more earlier within the season.
Arsenal’s major wobble this yr got here when captain Martin Odegaard was out injured and Ferdinand says Nwaneri must have got more game-time during that period.
‘Arsenal could possibly be nearer to winning the league and closer to Liverpool in case your manager played Nwaneri when Odegaard was injured,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
‘What he’s doing… he’s cooking defenders, he’s cooking teams. I feel if he got here in you’d have gotten more points.
‘It’s easy to say in hindsight but I used to be saying it on the time. Chuck him in and just see, what’s the worst that may occur?
‘Since you were running up dead alleys on the time and never getting results. Put him in! Odegaard was gone.’
Nwaneri has stepped up for the depleted Gunners for the reason that start of 2025, scoring three goals in his last seven appearances.
The 17-year-old impressed again in Saturday’s victory over Leicester City, which saw Arsenal keep the pressure on Premier League title rivals Liverpool.
After Liverpool overcame Wolves later within the weekend, Slot admitted it was a two-horse race for the title.
‘We would have liked to fight and we wanted Alisson,’ he said after the nervy 2-1 win at Anfield. ‘In a season where you would like to achieve something, it’s essential have wins like this as well.
‘Wins like this also needs to be included where you would like to achieve something. You possibly can never breathe on this competition.
‘I see Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten run within the Premier League and the gap has at all times been the identical, in order that shows what now we have to do.
‘In the event you take a look at the previous few seasons it has mostly been a battle between two teams. As things stand, it looks like between us and Arsenal. Their form tells you the way well they’re doing, but additionally how well we’re doing.’
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