RIO FERDINAND has tipped Arsenal to scrape a top-half finish in the Premier League this season after their horror start.
The Gunners suffered 2-0 defeats in their opening two matches – firstly away at Brentford and then at home to Chelsea.
No points and no goals ensured it was their worst-ever beginning to a league season in their 118-year history, sitting ahead only of Norwich.
Things do not get any easier for Mikel Arteta’s side as they travel to champions Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime.
And Manchester United legend Ferdinand reckons Arsenal fans should lower their expectations for the campaign.
He told his FIVE YouTube channel: “I would be happy with top ten if I was you lot [Arsenal fans].
“I think you will finish ninth. Let me look at the league table right now, you’re 19th right now.
“Brighton would bang up Arsenal right now! Brighton would be a problem for you lot!
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“He still thinks it’s the O2 Arsenal with the O2 on the shirt. Brighton would smack you up, bruv!
“You lot need to do something because oh boy. You know what, I can’t even laugh this week because Man Utd put a dent in my confidence.”
Arsenal avoided defeat for the first time this season with a 6-0 thumping of West Brom in the Carabao Cup.
They were rewarded with a home tie against AFC Wimbledon in round three.
And with no European football this term for the first time since 1995-96, Arteta will surely hope to do well in the domestic cup competitions.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a hat-trick while Alexandre Lacazette completed the scoring as the strikers got their first goals since catching Covid-19 earlier this month.
New-signing Ben White will sit out of the trip to the Etihad after testing positive.
Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey remain out but the Gunners could be buoyed by the return of Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney at full-back.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
