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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Rio Ferdinand tells Man Utd duo they need to start copying Arsenal sensation

Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho both need to add more "risk" to their game - just like Arsenal star Leandro Trossard.

Antony, 23, and Sancho, 22, have both struggled to show their best form since moving to Old Trafford. Antony arrived from Ajax in an £85million deal last August, while Sancho completed a £73m move from Borussia Dortmund the summer before.

Neither have particularly thrived in Manchester, while the more experienced Trossard is flourishing at the Emirates., hitting the ground running since his January move. The former Brighton star, 28, has produced five assists in his last four Premier League outings - including a hat-trick of them in Arsenal's 3-0 win at London rivals Fulham last Sunday.

As such, Ferdinand has encouraged Antony and Sancho to emulate the Belgian international. The ex-defender told his Vibe with Five show, "There’s one part of Antony and Jadon Sancho’s game that I think needs to improve, and that’s taking more risks.

"You don’t get anything in this game without taking risks. You don’t have success without taking risks, you don’t win trophies without taking risks. Alex Ferguson used to say to us all the time that he doesn’t want safe from forwards.

"That’s what I love about Bruno Fernandes, by the way. He just needs some weapons in front of him. If he’s got people in front of him making runs and taking risks, he’s a problem for any team."

Antony and Jadon Sancho are both still settling in at Manchester United (Getty Images)
Leandro Trossard produced a hat-trick of assists last time out (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Do agree with Rio Ferdinand? Let us know in the comments below!

Antony and Sancho both boast modest records in the Premier League. Brazilian Antony has scored just three goals in the competition - providing no assists - while Englishman Sancho has produced just seven goals and four assists in his 43 outings.

Trossard, meanwhile, looks to be a bargain following his £27m move from Premier League rivals Brighton in January. Ferdinand added, "Trossard, for me, has been a masterstroke signing. He gives Arsenal that depth in wide areas and up front.

"Arsenal had [Bukayo] Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli producing miracles all season but who can come in if one of them gets injured or needs a rest? It’s Trossard now. He was the one player at Brighton who I was surprised hadn’t gone earlier."

Trossard's impact at the Emirates leaves Mikel Arteta with a difficult decision. The Arsenal boss must decide whether to stick with Trossard or bring back talismanic striker Gabriel Jesus, who made his first Premier League appearance in four months against Fulham.

Ferdinand did not offer an opinion on the matter but did continue to wax lyrical about Trossard. He said: "Every time I watched him he did something in the game. He’s a Belgium international too. When you talk about wide players not taking risks, this guy takes risk.

"He gets the ball, he goes forward, he plays one-twos, he dribbles, he takes people on and he can see a pass. He is doing everything and more that Arteta would have wanted from him as a new signing. He’s had a massive impact at Arsenal."

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