Rio Ferdinand has warned Arsenal that Kevin De Bruyne's cameo against Newcastle United on Saturday evening could be a sign of things to come in the Premier League title race.
De Bruyne recently made his return to action after missing since the start of the season with a hamstring injury, though yesterday offered a clear reminder of his quality in his first Premier League game back.
Deployed from the bench in the 69th minute with City 2-1 down against Newcastle, the Belgian midfielder got on the scoresheet five minutes later before setting up Oscar Bobb's stoppage-time winner.
Such a performance was reminiscent of the quality shown by the 32-year-old on countless occasions and will have left Arsenal and others in the division worried, believes Ferdinand.
«Pep Guardiola, very rarely do you see him as animated as he was today,» the former Manchester United defender told TNT Sports. «I’ll tell you one thing, that man there (KDB), you’re back, you are back. You are the jewel in the crown, you’re back. Look at us now, watch momentum kick in now and these guys know what to do.
»These guys know when to put the pedal to the floor and it looks like now everybody is going to be looking over their shoulders and looking around and saying 'they are coming'. They know how to get the job done, they have the experience, the depth, the class, the quality and the firepower. Formidable."
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Sharing his prediction as to who will win the Premier League title this campaign, Ferdinand said back in October: «I still think City will win. Arsenal are in there, Arsenal have a good
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