{"id":3236,"date":"2026-04-07T11:51:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T11:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3236"},"modified":"2026-04-07T11:51:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T11:51:25","slug":"rio-ferdinand-names-team-that-could-end-arsenals-premier-league-title-charge-goodnight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=3236","title":{"rendered":"Rio Ferdinand names team that could end Arsenal&#8217;s Premier League title charge &#8211; &#8216;Goodnight&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_32b220\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Rio Ferdinand has predicted Arsenal&#8217;s assault on the Premier League title could be disrupted by one team &#8211; and it isn&#8217;t Manchester City<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">11:39, 07 Apr 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 11:41, 07 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32204272\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rio Ferdinand gestures on his podcast\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32204272.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_rio-grab-2.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32204272.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/1_rio-grab-2.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32204272.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/1_rio-grab-2.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32204272.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_rio-grab-2.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Rio Ferdinand has named the one team that could spoil Arsenal's Premier League title bid\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Rio Ferdinand has named the one team that could spoil Arsenal&#8217;s Premier League title bid<cite aria-label=\"Image: YouTube\/Rio Ferdinand Presents\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: YouTube\/Rio Ferdinand Presents)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has identified the team that could collapse Arsenal&#8217;s run to Premier League glory. And while Manchester City may be the stiffest competition for the title itself, they&#8217;re not the outfit he thinks could derail the whole affair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mikel Arteta&#8217;s side, who won 3-2 at the Vitality Stadium in January, remain nine points in front of Pep Guardiola&#8217;s City as league play resumes this weekend. However, City old one game in hand, which would reduce that gap to just six points assuming they win it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There&#8217;s also the small matter of a direct conflict between Arsenal and City at the Etihad Stadium on April 19. Bearing all that in mind, Ferdinand placed a special emphasis on Saturday&#8217;s home game against Bournemouth as a potential deal-breaker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking on his <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YvW3vUr2LL8&amp;t=62s\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">YouTube channel<\/a>the Old Trafford legend said: &#8220;This isn\u2019t a slight at Arsenal and their players but at this moment it\u2019s about who deals with the pressure best and experience counts for a lot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFCFootball.London#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Man City have that so if they get within touching distance of Arsenal you guys are going to be in trouble because there\u2019s been a momentum shift. They know this walk, they\u2019ve walked this path too many times.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Arsenal have walked it and finished runners-up so they don\u2019t know the winning element of this, they\u2019re still trying to get there. This is where Mikel Arteta will earn his money. It\u2019s not easy, I\u2019m not saying it is, this is a difficult period of the season for Arsenal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;They\u2019ve got Bournemouth at the weekend and that\u2019s a tough game, if you don\u2019t win that game\u2026 wow. And then you\u2019ve got an in-form Man City the week after? It could be goodnight.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-32928784\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"32928784\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.52\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Antoine Semenyo of AFC Bournemouth celebrates the equalising goal of Dean Huijsen during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium \" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32928784.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Arsenal-FC-v-AFC-Bournemouth-Premier-League.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32928784.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_Arsenal-FC-v-AFC-Bournemouth-Premier-League.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32928784.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_Arsenal-FC-v-AFC-Bournemouth-Premier-League.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article32928784.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Arsenal-FC-v-AFC-Bournemouth-Premier-League.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Bournemouth came up with a 2-1 win the last time they visited Arsenal in May 2025\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Bournemouth came up with a 2-1 win the last time they visited Arsenal in May 2025<cite aria-label=\"Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">City benefit from having already defeated Arsenal in last month&#8217;s League Cup final. That result will grant Guardiola&#8217;s men confidence as will their recent 4-0 mauling of Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, it&#8217;s worth noting City won just one of their five games prior to that. Real Madrid knocked them out of the Champions League following a pair of home-and-away losses, while they also drew consecutive league outings against West Ham and Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As Ferdinand mentioned, the name of the game now is standing up to pressure in such a privileged position. Arsenal travel to face Sporting CP in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, after which all attention turns back to securing their cushion in the title race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Arsenal have a decent run-in, are nine points clear and have one of the less fancied teams in the quarter-finals of the Champions League,&#8221; added Ferdinand. &#8220;If someone had told you Arsenal would be in that position at this stage of the season with seven games to go, you would have bitten their arm off.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The six-time Premier League champion went on to note how Arsenal&#8217;s confidence may have understandably dipped following the League Cup final loss. And Ferdinand believes City are on an upwards curve at the worst possible moment from a Gunners perspective.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I think Man City can smell blood,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I thought the cup final was massive for City because if they won the momentum shift could be a big factor in the run-in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Then Arsenal get beat in the FA Cup and confidence is lowered again. If they win their game in hand it\u2019s down to six points and then they get to play Arsenal at home\u2026I don\u2019t know, man, it makes it very difficult for Arsenal. They\u2019re a dangerous animal now, City, and have the experience on Arsenal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Watch Sporting CP vs Arsenal for free<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33697816.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Prime-Champions-Leaguejfif.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-price-details__OpMC_\">\n<p>\u00a38.99<\/p>\n<p>\u00a30<\/p>\n<p>Amazon<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/primevideo-eu.pxf.io\/c\/344386\/1978462\/20021?subId1=FootballLondon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">Get Amazon Prime here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal have reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals where they face <!-- -->Sporting CP on April 7<!-- -->. <!-- -->Fans can watch the game for free with an Amazon Prime subscription or 30-day trial.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rio Ferdinand has predicted Arsenal&#8217;s assault on the Premier League title could be disrupted by one team &#8211; and it isn&#8217;t Manchester City 11:39, 07 Apr 2026Updated 11:41, 07 Apr 2026 Rio Ferdinand has named the one team that could spoil Arsenal&#8217;s Premier League title bid(Image: YouTube\/Rio Ferdinand Presents) Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3236"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3236\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}