Rio Ferdinand has questioned the ability of Martin Zubimendi following Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup final.
City denied the Gunners the first leg of a potential treble as they suffocated them inside their own half, and Mikel Arteta’s team couldn’t play through their press.
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Pep Guardiola’s side devised a four-man attacking press which caused the North London club all sorts of problems at Wembley.
In particular, it seriously limited Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, with neither player dropping deep and looking to play through the press.
Rio Ferdinand slams Martin Zubimendi’s performance vs Man City
Rio Ferdinand has questioned Zubimendi’s performance against Man City as Arsenal failed to progress the ball forward.
Arteta’s side wanted to get the ball to Rice, but they had nobody willing to drop deep and take the ball off the centre-backs.
The former Manchester United defender claims that it would not have been the case if it were Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Rodri.
Speaking about Arsenal’s midfield, he told Rio Presents: “I think they were trying to get Declan Rice the ball beyond that press, beyond that front four that were pressing.
“I think that was the main issue of getting the ball to him, Zubimendi is the one who’s meant to come deeper and be the dictator.
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“But they didn’t have anybody capable who looked like they had the confidence or the know-how to do that, and that’s when you find a player that goes, ‘Give me the ball now’.
“Can you imagine the best ones when you go to Toni Kroos? What’s Modric doing in that situation? Probably even Rodri.
“If that situation happened, they’d find a way to work it out, either as players or the manager on the side would change something and that just didn’t happen yesterday.
“That was one thing that left me thinking, this Arsenal team again, that they’ve got to find ways of working things and different puzzles out against the big teams.”
Zubimendi has been given a lot of praise this season, and rightfully so, but over recent weeks, we are starting to see that he does have limitations.
In possession, the £60m star is not much of a risk-taker, and when Arsenal need someone to control the ball deep in the big matches, he often shies away.
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