October 25th 2024.
Ahead of their highly anticipated match against Liverpool on Sunday, Rio Ferdinand has shared his thoughts on Arsenal's chances. Despite the Gunners' recent struggles, Ferdinand believes that Liverpool will enter the game as the clear favorites.
Under the leadership of their new manager Arne Slot, the Reds have had an impressive start to the season, with the only blemish on their record being a surprise loss to Nottingham Forest. In fact, their midweek victory over RB Leipzig solidified Slot's place in Liverpool's history as the first manager to win 11 out of his first 12 matches.
Although Liverpool have lost their last two Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium, they are heading into the match with confidence. Arsenal, on the other hand, have been struggling, with a shocking defeat to Bournemouth last week and a lackluster performance against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.
Injuries and suspensions have also added to Arsenal's complications, with William Saliba's suspension and concerns over the fitness of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. Ferdinand believes that this presents a golden opportunity for Liverpool to distance themselves from a major title rival.
"In terms of form and momentum, I would say Liverpool are 100% the favorites," Ferdinand shared on TNT Sport. "At the moment, Arsenal seem to be decimated by injuries. They don't have the same momentum and are not performing at their best, unlike last season. The tide has turned and right now, Liverpool are in a better position."
Despite acknowledging that his team has yet to reach the same heights as last season, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is confident that the Emirates will be buzzing come game day. Reflecting on their win against Shakhtar, Arteta noted the two very different halves of the game and the team's need to improve on certain aspects.
"We were very dominant in the first half and created four big chances, which we should have converted. However, in the second half, we looked tired and lacked sharpness both with and without the ball," Arteta said. "We also missed a big penalty, which was a difficult emotion to overcome. But credit to Shakhtar, they are a good side and we managed to get the win and a clean sheet in the Champions League. Now, we just need to move on."
As the game draws near, all eyes will be on the Emirates Stadium to see if Arsenal can bounce back from their recent struggles or if Liverpool will continue their impressive start to the season. Sign up now for all the latest Arsenal news, exclusives, and analysis. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
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