Arsenal already have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after a dominant win against PSV but that has still not been enough to convince Rio Ferdinand they can win the competition
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand has given his verdict on Arsenal's Champions League chances (
Image: TNT SPORTS)
Rio Ferdinand has slammed Arsenal for going “backwards”, claiming they have little chance of winning the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s side have endured a rollercoaster campaign with their Premier League title challenge all but dead. They do, however, remain in a strong position in Europe after beating PSV 7-1 in the first-leg of their last-16 meeting.
Ferdinand though is still not convinced about their chances of winning the competition, with a host of other clubs in a better position for glory. Speaking on YouTube, the Manchester United icon said: “I think they're probably the fifth-best team in the Champions League on that side of the draw.
“I'm not even talking about the whole competition, on that side of the draw. They're behind Liverpool, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Arsenal are the fifth-best team on that side of the draw. That's mad.
“They've gone further away from where they were last year. They've gone backwards, I do believe that. The recruitment needs to be shifted a little bit.
“You can't have a CDM [Mikel Merino] playing up front when you're trying to win the Premier League and Champions League. They had an opportunity in January [to sign a new striker] but there wasn't loads available.
“I definitely would have made a beeline for a centre-forward, 100 per cent. Kai Havertz has done an okay job but you need an out-and-out No. 9, surely.”
And while Ferdinand is not expecting Arsenal to enjoy an extended run in the Champions League, ex-Gunners defender Philippe Senderos has suggested different. He believes that a positive European run could give the end of the season a very positive outlook.
Arsenal already have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals (
Image:
Getty Images)
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Speaking to DAZN, he said: "I think when you enter a competition, you don't target to lose one and to win another one, so I'm sure they go in with a good feeling. I think it's a good moment to get out of thinking about the league and the two bad results that they had in the last few weeks.
"This is a good opportunity to go into a different competition with a fresh mind and prepare in a different way, and I think it comes at the right time for Arsenal."
Arteta’s side will be aiming to book their spot in the last-16 next week. Only an unprecedented comeback from PSV stands in their way and a quarter-final match-up with Spanish giants Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.
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