EPL: Rio Ferdinand defends Mikel Arteta’s tactics in Arsenal’s defeat vs Liverpool
Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has disagreed with the notion that Arsenal played ‘negative football’ against Liverpool on Sunday.
The Gunners were heavily criticised after the game on Sunday, with some pundits saying they cannot win the league with the pattern of football they play.
The Gunners lost 1-0 to the Reds, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring the only goal from a 30-yard free kick.
The former England international, however, said that Arsenal boss, that Mikel Arteta could have been a bit more positive with his approach to the game starting from his selection of players.
“I’ve seen a lot of people being quite negative about Arsenal. [People are saying] they played negative football, and that you can’t win the league playing the way they played at Anfield.
“The team selection could have been a bit more positive [in my opinion]. You had the more creative players on the bench, I get that. But you can’t tell me the way Arsenal started that game, there wasn’t a [positive intent]. They were on the front foot, high press, Liverpool couldn’t get out.”
According to him, the Reds were not at their best in the early stage of the game, adding that matches of that calibre are often tight.
The Englishman said his only problem with Arsenal was Arteta’s starting Xi.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s 83rd minute goal was all the Reds needed to secure all three points against their title rivals.
EPL: Rio Ferdinand defends Mikel Arteta’s tactics in Arsenal’s defeat vs Liverpool
