Arsenal

Rio Ferdinand urges Arsenal to build team around three youngsters

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 05 April 2020

Rio Ferdinand tells Arsenal to build their team around youngsters Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Joe Willock, while adding more stability around them.

Rio Ferdinand has identified three youngsters around whom Arsenal should look to build their team in the future.

Mikel Arteta has handed regular chances to young players since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium, with the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Joe Willock, Bukayo Saka and Matteo Guendouzi making 73 Premier League appearances between them this season.

Ferdinand believes that the Gunners now need to make the most of their talented crop of youngsters while building a more stable unit around them.

"Keep bringing in these [players], Martinelli, Saka, Willock, all these boys," Ferdinand said during an Instagram Live video.

"I love seeing that but they've got to get stability and strength in there, some people who will do good for the club, because it hasn't worked with the likes of Sokratis [Papastathopoulos] and [Shkodran] Mustafi, I don't think they haven't been able to get it right, and [Calum] Chambers before that."

Ferdinand also questioned why Arsenal would be interested in signing Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic, insisting that they need a centre-back instead.