Manchester United icons Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney have weighed in on the debate surrounding Arsenal's mentality, rejecting the notion that the Gunners are 'bottlers' – but both identified a glaring issue in Mikel Arteta's squad.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Ferdinand argued: "I don't think they bottle it. I just think they come up against teams that are better than them." The former England defender pointed to Arsenal's lack of a world-class striker as their Achilles' heel in tight matches.
Rooney echoed this sentiment, stating: "They've got a lot of quality but when you look at Manchester City, they've got that striker in Haaland who can win games on his own." The ex-United captain highlighted how Arsenal's reliance on midfielders for goals could prove costly in the title race.
Key Weakness Exposed
Both pundits agreed that while Arsenal have improved significantly under Arteta, their failure to recruit an elite centre-forward leaves them short of matching champions Manchester City:
- No natural 20-goal-a-season striker
- Over-reliance on midfield contributions
- Lack of physical presence in attack
Ferdinand noted: "When you're playing against the best teams, you need that focal point. Jesus works hard but isn't ruthless enough."
Title Race Verdict
Despite Arsenal sitting top of the Premier League, the former United stars believe City remain favourites due to their superior firepower and experience in run-ins. Rooney concluded: "City know how to get over the line. Until Arsenal solve their striker problem, they'll always be second best."
