Rio Ferdinand says Arsenal are ‘in no man’s land’ for allowing Joe Willock to join Newcastle for just £20m

Rio Ferdinand believes Arsenal are in ‘no man’s land’ after allowing Joe Willock to move to Newcastle United on a permanent deal.

The England Under-21 international spent the second half of the previous campaign on loan at St James’ Park and Steve Bruce made no secret of his desire to make it official.

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A deal in excess of £20million was agreed on Sunday afternoon, with Mikel Arteta coy when explaining why the 21-year-old was not in the squad for the friendly against Tottenham Hotspur.

Willock, who came through the academy at Hale End, made just seven appearances for the Gunners last season and rumours of a move for Leicester's James Maddison have circulated for some time.

Yet former Manchester United defender Ferdinand was left perplexed at the decision to allow Willock to leave this summer – regardless of whether or not a high-profile replacement is inbound.

“I don’t know how Arsenal have let Joe Willock go,” he said on his

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“The guy scores goals from midfield man. I really like him.

“I don’t understand that. Newcastle have done unbelievably well to get him by the way, I think he’s a really good talent.

“He scores goals, he expects to score, he’s a good mover, makes good runs into the box.

“At the moment with Arsenal, I know they’re building and Arteta is trying to build something and he’s setting the foundations there, but they’re in no man’s land.”