Arsenal legend Ian Wright has jumped to the defence of Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand is in the middle of the worst run of form in his career, but Wright insists he will come good.

In his column for The Sun, Wright wrote: "Rio is having a little bit of a blip by his standards but it's nothing to worry about. He's still England's most naturally-talented defender.

"Some people are blaming Rio's off-field activities. He has been involved in a film, has done some TV work and also has a record label. But knowing him as I do, from my time at West Ham and since then, he would never give anything other than 100 per cent for his team.

"At Upton Park, he was always a good lad with a great attitude. He was one of those people who was always on the go and, even after training, you could tell he wanted to do something. In my final year at Arsenal, I started doing TV work.

"In the week before the 1998 FA Cup final, David Dein - the club's vice-chairman and also my friend - told me it was 'immoral' that a professional footballer was presenting a TV show. It was a comment that I disagreed with strongly.

"In that season, when I started going into the studio, Arsenal won the Double. Throughout, I never took my eye of the ball. I was full committed to the cause, always giving 100 per cent. It was just that, in the occasional afternoon and evening, I chose to go to the TV studio rather than stay at home or 'go down the pub'.

"But it never affected my football and it's ridiculous to say Rio's game is suffering. Like all top players, he is going through a spell when he's a bit below-par. I don't think Rio did that badly against Liverpool.

"But there are people queuing up to have a go at him.

"Whether it's because he's a Londoner playing for United, I don't know."

 
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