Rio Ferdinand names two Arsenal players who were 'sublime' in NLD
Rio Ferdinand has told his YouTube channel that Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were just sublime as Arsenal won Sunday’s North London Derby, before urging Mikel Arteta to build his team around the pair.
What’s the story?
The Gunners claimed the bragging rights in emphatic fashion at the weekend as they beat Spurs 3-1 at the Emirates.
Arsenal played some stunning football in the first-half. And at the heart of a lot of what they did so well was Saka and Smith Rowe.
The pair both got on the scoresheet and contributed an assist each. It was Saka who set Smith Rowe up for the simple opener 12 minutes into the game.
It was yet another reminder of why the hopes are so high for the pair of Arsenal academy graduates. And Ferdinand insisted that Arteta needs to make the duo the fulcrum of his plans moving forward.
“Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were just sublime, especially in the first-half,” he told his YouTube channel.
“Clinical, an assist and a goal each. They’ve got to build around these kids. They’ve got to keep them at the club for starters, and they’ve got to build around them with the right players.”
Arsenal have to keep moving up table to keep Saka and Smith Rowe for the long-term
Right now, it is incredibly difficult to see either Saka or Smith Rowe leaving the Emirates anytime soon. They look to be in the best place for their development while they are playing regularly.
But Arsenal will be aware that they are destined for the top. And with that, comes a pressure to make sure that the Gunners continue to build and get back up the table.
Saka and Smith Rowe are clearly loving their football right now. And they would surely love to realise their ambitions while playing for Arsenal.
The onus is on Arteta to make sure that that is possible.
