EPL: Rio Ferdinand names rival player that helped Arsenal win title last season

Former Manchester United player, Rio Ferdinand, has asserted that Arsenal would not person secured the Premier League rubric had Manchester City midfielder, Rodri, not sustained an injury.

After a 22-year wait, Arsenal yet lifted the Premier League trophy, finishing archetypal with 85 points, 8 points up of second-placed Manchester City.

Ferdinand, a erstwhile Red Devils star, confidently stated that Manchester City would person overtaken Arsenal for the Premier League rubric if their cardinal midfielder Rodri had been acceptable and disposable passim the season.

Rodri was absent for 27 matches crossed each competitions past season. He managed to commencement lone 17 retired of the 38 imaginable Premier League games past season, which posed important challenges for Pep Guardiola.

Discussing the changes astatine Manchester City, Ferdinand highlighted Rodri’s power connected the squad during his podcast. He besides mentioned that Rodri’s imaginable departure amid involvement from Barcelona could exacerbate their difficulties.

He remarked via Metro UK, “Can we conscionable speech astir Manchester City please? Not lone person they mislaid Pep Guardiola, but it present appears they are besides losing Rodri. That’s 2 of the astir important figures astatine the shot nine implicit the past 7 oregon 8 years.

“If Rodri had started and played each lucifer past play without injury, Manchester City w...