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Rio Ferdinand: Top teams like Chelsea can adapt, Arsenal can't
RIO FERDINAND believes Arsenal need to be more like Chelsea and work out a way of changing their system to suit the needs of big games.
Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the last-16 of the Champions League tonight
Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the Champions League last-16 first leg tonight, having crashed out of this stage in each of the past six seasons.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has been criticised for sticking to his game plan regardless of opposition in recent years.
We see Chelsea this season. When it comes to grinding games out ugly they can do it
And Ferdinand highlighted Chelsea, who switched to three in defence after a 3-0 thumping at Arsenal earlier this season and have since shot to the top of the Premier League, as an example of what Arsenal need to do to be successful.
"The top teams are adaptable," he told BT Sport before kick off.
"They come up against certain opposition and they adapt their games to suit the game.
"Arsenal seem to play one particular way most of the time and can't change.
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"(Olivier) Giroud is probably the only difference, a point of reference in this team. He gives them something different and creates a presence in the box.
"But defensively can they grind it out? We see Chelsea this season. When it comes to grinding games out ugly they can do it.
"This Arsenal team haven't proven that yet."
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