Rio Ferdinand claims "top" Arsenal player is "undeniably" better than Liverpool "flop"

Rio Ferdinand claimed that Arsenal summer signing Gabriel Jesus has been “undeniably” better than Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez this season.

Jesus joined the Gunners from Manchester City in a deal worth a reported £45million over the summer, and the Brazilian hit the ground running.

The Arsenal striker has registered five goals and four assists in his 11 Premier League outings this season, while out of possession he’s been an energetic menace for opposition defenders.

Meanwhile Núñez arrived at Liverpool from Benfica for a seismic £64million (the fee could eventually rise to £85million) and has shown flashes of brilliance.

Like Jesus, the Uruguayan has scored five goals in 12 Liverpool games, but his chaotic style and occasional wastefulness in front of goal has also been the source of some ridicule among fans.

While Núñez’s Liverpool fortunes appear to be turning, with the Liverpool record signing having netted in three of his last four appearances, Jesus hasn’t scored in five games in all competitions.

Nevertheless Ferdinand insisted that Jesus had been a “top” signing due to his undoubted impact on that team, and claimed the Liverpool man was a “flop, so far”.

The former Manchester United centre-back told Vibe with FIVE: “If we are going to go on goals, then you can say they are both much as much this season, in terms of goals.

“But the impact, it’s all about the impact on your team and your teammates. Jesus has undeniably been better than Núñez.

“You gave me an option between top or flop. I’m going to lean on the side of a flop (for Núñez). I don’t think he’s been an outright flop. I’m going to lean on that side.

“What he (Jesus) has done to their team, I think he brings more than goals. I think (Mikel) Arteta would like more than just goals from that number nine.”

Ferdinand went on to compare Jesus to another Liverpool forward - Roberto Firmino.

The 43-year-old said: “A bit like Firmino, when he was flying at Liverpool. When Firmino wasn’t getting 25 goals a season, was [Jurgen] Klopp going ‘he’s not for me. I am going to look out for a new striker’?”

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Liverpool, Arsenal, Rio Ferdinand, Darwin Nunez, Gabriel Jesus

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.