BREAKING NEWS: “I Used to Like Him Before, But Now I Really Dislike Him” — Rio Ferdinand Slams Arsenal Star After Chelsea Display
Despite Arsenal securing a crucial victory over Chelsea last night, club legend Rio Ferdinand has launched a brutal assessment of one Arsenal player whose performance left him deeply unimpressed. Speaking during post-match analysis, Ferdinand did not hold back as he criticised the unnamed player for repeatedly losing possession — more than 10 times — in what he described as an unacceptable showing at the highest level.
The former Manchester United defender admitted that his opinion of the player has completely changed following the match.
“I used to like him before,” Ferdinand said. “But ever since his performance against Chelsea last night, I so dislike him now. Arsenal wasted a lot of money there.”
Ferdinand’s comments immediately sparked debate, especially given that Arsenal won the match and picked up vital points in their league campaign. However, the pundit made it clear that results should not excuse individual performances, particularly when a player’s mistakes could easily have cost the team.
According to match statistics, the Arsenal player in question lost possession over 10 times, often in dangerous areas that invited Chelsea pressure and disrupted Arsenal’s rhythm. Ferdinand highlighted these moments as examples of poor decision-making, lack of awareness, and failure to protect the ball under pressure.
“You can’t keep giving the ball away like that and expect to survive against top teams,” Ferdinand added. “Chelsea didn’t punish them enough, but against elite opposition, those mistakes will kill you.”
The criticism was especially harsh considering the player arrived at Arsenal with a big price tag and high expectations. Signed to elevate the team and provide control, his performance instead raised serious questions about whether he truly fits Mikel Arteta’s system when the pressure is highest.
While some Arsenal fans were quick to defend the player — pointing to his work rate and involvement in build-up play — others echoed Ferdinand’s concerns. Social media was flooded with clips of misplaced passes, heavy touches, and moments where possession was cheaply surrendered, reigniting debates about Arsenal’s transfer decisions.
Ferdinand also stressed that his comments were not personal, but rooted in standards.
“This is Arsenal Football Club,” he said. “If you cost that much money, you must dominate games, not make them harder for your own teammates.”
Interestingly, the Arsenal manager chose not to single out any player after the match, instead praising the team’s resilience and ability to grind out a result. Internally, however, it is understood that the coaching staff were not fully satisfied with certain individual displays despite the win.
Former players and analysts have since weighed in, with opinions split. Some agree with Ferdinand, arguing that Arsenal were fortunate Chelsea failed to capitalise on turnovers. Others believe the criticism is overly harsh given the intensity of the match and the overall team performance.
What is clear is that Ferdinand’s remarks have added pressure on the player heading into Arsenal’s next fixture. With expectations sky-high and scrutiny increasing, another performance like this could see the noise grow even louder.
For now, Arsenal have the points — but Rio Ferdinand’s warning is clear: wins may hide problems, but they don’t erase them.
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