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Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has taken a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson\u2019s title-winning book during the international break.<\/p>\n
The Gunners are having a brilliant season in the Premier League<\/strong> with Arteta\u2019s men currently leading the title race by nine points, although second-placed Manchester City have a game in hand and will play Arsenal<\/strong> at the Etihad Stadium next month.<\/p>\n Following their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Man City in the Carabao Cup final<\/strong> in their last match, Arsenal have a big couple of months ahead with Arteta\u2019s side still in the Champions League and FA Cup.<\/p>\n And Arteta will no doubt have been pleased to see a number of his key players opt against playing for their countries over the international break.<\/p>\n Former Man Utd defender Ferdinand reckons Arteta will have threatened his players with a fine if they represented their countries in friendly matches over the current international break.<\/p>\n Ferdinand told his YouTube channel: \u201cMikel Arteta has worked his magic and told them if anyone plays or anyone goes you\u2019re getting fined and they\u2019ve all dropped out.\u201d<\/p>\n READ: Tottenham\u2019s new leadership and \u2018Arsenal double-agent\u2019 has Spurs fans longing for Levy<\/strong><\/p>\n When asked if Arsenal fans should be worried by a number of recent injuries, Ferdinand added: \u201cNo. They\u2019ll all be available for selection, bar one or two.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely the manager saying listen this is the first win we could get in terms of the Premier League, we have to be ready, we need your energy, this is a friendly for your national team.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard this speech from Sir Alex Ferguson so I understand it. The guys have just gone this is our priority we need to win the league.\u201d<\/p>\n And Ferdinand has revealed that legendary Man Utd manager Ferguson used to regularly pressure players into putting club before country.<\/p>\n MORE ARSENAL COVERAGE ON F365\u2026<\/strong> Ferdinand continued: \u201cThe game\u2019s finished we\u2019ve won the game before we go away with our national team and he\u2019ll be in there going \u2018we\u2019ve got a big game in 10 days and that\u2019s just a friendly, I don\u2019t want to see anyone playing more than 45 minutes. I don\u2019t care what you have to do to get out of it you can\u2019t play more than 45\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019d be other players like Wazza and that when they\u2019ve been playing so many games, the matchwinners who need protecting a bit more.<\/p>\n \u201cCristiano as well, players like that, he\u2019d be going to them privately you\u2019ve got to pull out of this one, we can\u2019t have you getting injured.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s protecting his interest which is Manchester United and he\u2019s Scottish so he\u2019s not got one care in the world for England.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n
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