Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has warned Arsenal that they risk a heavy defeat if they adopt a defensive approach against Manchester City in their upcoming Premier League clash.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand said Mikel Arteta’s side would be “pumped” if they go to the Etihad Stadium to sit back and play for a draw, stressing that such tactics would not be enough to win the league.
He referenced Liverpool’s approach against Paris Saint-Germain as an example, insisting that overly defensive setups against top teams can lead to heavy punishment.
The comments come after Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium, while Manchester City boosted confidence with a 3-0 win over Chelsea.
Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League table, six points ahead of City, although Pep Guardiola’s side still have a game in hand, adding more pressure to the title race.