LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer News

Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal were lucky Ibrahimovic has left PSG

Follow us on Google Discover

The Gunners drew with the French champions on Tuesday, with striker Edinson Cavani missing several big chances.

Paris St Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic addresses at a news conference at the Parc des Princes stadium in ParisParis St Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic addresses at a news conference at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris

Rio Ferdinand has told BT Sport that Arsenal would have been run out of town by Paris Saint-Germain had Zlatan Ibrahimovic still been in the team.

The Gunners travelled to Paris on Tuesday evening for the first game of their Champions League campaign.

It proved to be a difficult night for them in the Parc des Prices as the French champions took the lead through Edinson Cavani after just 42 seconds.

Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani celebrates scoring their first goalParis Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani celebrates scoring their first goal

They eventually equalised through Alexis Sanchez’s strike but only after Cavani had missed a number of gilt-edged chances to seal all three points for Unai Emery’s team.

And Ferdinand says they were lucky that Ibrahimovic is still not playing for PSG or it would have been a much worse night for them.

“They[Arsenal] were lucky, if Ibrahimovic plays, who was [there] last year, I think they get run out of town. But Cavani didn’t put the chances away that came his way,” he told BT Sport.

Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani looks dejectedParis Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani looks dejected

While Arsenal will be disappointed with the draw, on reflection it is actually a good point for them.

They have secured a positive result away from home against their main rivals in the group, which is not to be sniffed at in any regard.

Indeed, the return leg at the Emirates on the 23rd November is now likely to decide which of the two sides will finish top of Group A.

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez and manager Arsene WengerArsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and manager Arsene Wenger