Rio Ferdinand has backed Arsenal to beat Manchester City to the Premier League title this season. He believes the Gunners will end Pep Guardiola’s 4-in-a-row run and their own league title drought.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Ferdinand claimed that the addition of Riccardio Calaflori would elevate the Gunners this season. He has backed Liverpool to finish third, with Manchester United completing the top four. He said:
“I just think Arsenal, Calaflori coming in on the left-hand side, if he comes in and sures that area up … I think he’s a fantastic player, played at Bologna under Thiago Motta, he understands that type of football that Arteta wants to play.
“I think that was the area that was a slight weakness in the team, he gives them a bit of balance there and a bit of stability. So I’ll go maybe Arsenal to win it, but there’s got to be a hunger. And there’s my top four there, I’m going to go with that. Man United improving on that eighth position of last season to [the] top four but I’ve got a sneaky feeling about Arsenal.”
Mikel Arteta’s side finished second in the last two seasons with Pep Guardiola’s side edging them to the title both times.
Former Manchester United star not backing Chelsea over Arsenal
Rio Ferdinand hasn’t picked Chelsea in his top four. He claimed that the signings by Manchester United have been better and thus the Red Devils would finish above the Blues.
He said on TNT Sports:
“Chelsea, I wouldn’t have them [in the top four]. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Chelsea. I think United are going to be a lot better as well. Their recruitment’s been good.”
Manchester United signed Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui this week while Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee were added earlier this summer.
Chelsea have also splashed the cash once again and spent on the first team. They have signed Pedro Neto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Filip Jorgensen, Renato Veiga, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Marc Guiu for the first team with Omari Kellyman also a part of the additions.