Arsenal and Manchester City are leading the way in the Premier League, will meet in the FA Cup fourth-round and have two of the best right wingers in Bukayo Saka and Riyad Mahrez. However, for one Premier League legend there is one clear standout player out of the two.
Saka and Mahrez are both in goalscoring form – with the former having scored twice in his four games for Arsenal since the World Cup and the latter netting five times in three matches for City post-Qatar.
The in-form pair pose issues for defences on a weekly basis, but for Rio Ferdinand the threat of Saka is far more problematic.
‘If I had to play against one or the other, I’d rather play against Mahrez over Saka, because [of] Saka’s pace,’ the ex-Manchester United and England centre back told his Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE YouTube channel.
‘For me as a defender if I was going to play full back, he’d want to go by you all the time.
‘He’s a threat always to go behind you, whereas Mahrez takes little breathers in games.
‘Listen, Mahrez is nuts. In terms of take-ons either way, he’s one of the most efficient and effective.’
Saka and Mahrez are yet to do battle on the pitch this season but Arsenal and City will meet three times over the course of the next three months – with two of those coming within the space of two-and-half week timeframe.
The first encounter will be in the FA Cup when City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium across the final weekend of January.
Then on February 15, top-of-the-table Arsenal host City in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium before the reverse fixture takes place on April 26 in a potential pivotal title-decider.
