BREAKING NEWS:‼️ Rio Ferdinand didn’t hold back — he’s urging Mikel Arteta to wake up and face the truth. “This player is way past his prime and shouldn’t be anywhere near the starting XI. He was the reason Arsenal crumbled yesterday — constantly nervous on the ball,” Ferdinand raged. And no, he’s not talking about Martinelli or Trossard. Ferdinand made it clear: if Arteta’s serious about winning, he needs to cut ties with this liability immediately. ARTETA MUST OFFLOAD HIM BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE 😤

Rio Ferdinand didn’t sugarcoat it — he came out swinging after Arsenal’s latest flop, pinpointing one of Mikel Arteta’s seasoned players as the weak link in the chain. In a scathing post-match breakdown, the Manchester United legend made it crystal clear: someone in that Arsenal backline has no business starting matches anymore.

 

Rather than aim his frustration at Arsenal’s attacking duo, Martinelli or Trossard — who often get the headlines, good or bad — Ferdinand chose to look deeper. His criticism wasn’t random; it was deliberate, targeted, and fueled by frustration at what he saw as a glaring liability.

 

He spoke with the bluntness of someone who’s seen enough: “Arteta needs to realise this guy’s best days are behind him. You can’t keep giving minutes to someone who rattles like a tin can every time the ball comes near. He cost them that game — point blank.”

 

Though he didn’t drop the name during the broadcast, it didn’t take long for insiders to confirm who he meant — Cedric Soares. The veteran right-back, once a solid presence, has become more of a worry than a weapon. He looked out of his depth, fumbling passes, misreading plays, and generally adding chaos where calm was needed.

 

Soares, thrust into the lineup due to injuries, couldn’t find his rhythm all night. His lack of pace, slow decision-making, and anxious touch turned him into a liability — and his mistakes weren’t harmless. One in particular nearly handed the opposition a goal, shifting the momentum of the match in a way Arsenal never recovered from.

 

Ferdinand didn’t stop at criticism — he called for action. “You don’t win trophies by clinging to the past,” he warned. “You evolve, you cut ties with the players holding you back. Arsenal needs to modernize that position if they’re serious about winning anything.”

 

Arteta, doing what managers do, stood by his man. He defended Cedric post-match, brushing off the criticism as part of the game. “We win and lose together,” he insisted, offering the kind of public backing a manager gives before the board starts looking for replacements.

 

Still, fans weren’t buying it. Across social media, the noise was deafening. The consensus was brutal but honest — Cedric’s time has run out. And with transfer season just around the corner, this latest display may well have sealed his fate at the Emirates.