Arsenal: Richards blames Arteta mistake for ‘very poor’ Southampton loss after Shearer makes title claim
Lewis Oldham Former Man City defender Micah Richards.
Micah Richards has blamed Mikel Arteta for Arsenal’s “very poor” loss to Southampton, while Alan Shearer has questioned their title credentials.
Arsenalhave suffered back-to-back losses, with the defeats to Man City and Southampton seeing them lose the Carabao Cup final and exit the FA Cup.
This has quickly ended talk of a Quadruple, and it remains to be seen whether the Gunners have the mentality to get over the line in the Premier League and/or Champions League.
Artetafielded a makeshift XI for his side’s FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton and was punished. Shea Charles netted a late winner after Viktor Gyokeres cancelled out Ross Stewart’s opener for the Saints.
And Richards thinks Arteta was wrong to field a weakened side against Southampton as you “have to play your best team”.
He also revealed the “most disappointing thing” about the loss to Southampton.
“You have to play your best team,” Richards said on BBC One.
READ: Two Arsenal careers over as not even Arteta can shield some amid generational bottling
“There is going to be so much noise around it. With Arsenal against Man City you can get beat in a final. Tonight, you asked me if I would play (David) Raya. I don’t think it was anything to do with him in terms of them losing, but you have to play your best team.
“It was only a couple of weeks ago people were saying Arsenal could do the quadruple, now they are in two competitions. Man City, after what they did earlier on [beating Liverpool 4-0], look like they are going to push them all the way for the league and the Champions League – anyone can win that.
“The most disappointing thing for me was watching them and their attitude.
“They have been excellent defensively, in transitions they have been very good, the shape has been good and the effort has been as good as anyone. For them to turn up the way they did today, I thought was very poor.”
READ MORE: Arsenal ‘bottlemageddon’ continues as Liverpool should give Slot a statue… then sack him
Fellow pundit Shearer insisted that Southampton deserved to beat Arsenal after he previously predicted the impact of a defeat.
‘”This is not a fluke,” Shearer said on Southampton beating Arsenal.
“Victory went to the better side on the night.”
Speaking to Betfair before the match, Shearer added: “After Arsenal got knocked out of the FA Cup, it will be incredibly tough for them, mentally, to go on and achieve what they want to achieve.”
READ NEXT: Arsenal: Arteta reveals Gabriel injury update as he sends message to players after Southampton loss
Arsenal Alan Shearer
Related Articles
Joe Williams
Arsenal ‘deal is practically done’ after Arteta ‘enters the scene’ for Barcelona star
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is leading the Gunners’ attempts to sign Barcelona midfielder Gavi ahead of the summer, according to reports.
Arsenal Gavi Will Ford
Ranking the 25 Arsenal bottlejobs from Max Dowman to Mikel Arteta
Havertz and Hincapie soar in an updated ranking of the Arsenal bottlejobs from Max Dowman to bottler-in-chief Mikel Arteta.
F365 Features Mikel Arteta Nestor Watach
The damning Mikel Arteta stat that promises Arsenal’s biggest bottle job yet
The numbers have been crunched, and they suggest ominous times ahead for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal as they approach the most crucial juncture of the 2025/26 campaign.
F365 Features Mikel Arteta Lewis Oldham
Liverpool: Shearer claims Slot ‘has to’ do one thing to prevent sack as Richards disagrees – ‘it’s crazy’
Pundit Alan Shearer has made a prediction regarding head coach Arne Slot’s future at Liverpool, though Micah Richards has disagreed.
Liverpool Alan Shearer Matt Stead
Arsenal shamed as more recent Wembley winners revealed following double setback
Arsenal have missed out on another Wembley victory, with most of their Premier League rivals winning at the national stadium far more recently.
F365 Features Mikel Arteta John Nicholson
Arsenal to bottle the lot? I feel indifferent and maybe you should too
The glee at Arsenal’s failure is lost on John Nicholson, who cannot understand why anybody would be so emotionally invested.
Johnny Nic Mikel Arteta
Latest Football News
Arne Slot responds to Van Dijk, Liverpool ‘quit’ remarks as Isak return confirmed
Alexander Isak Arne Slot
Man Utd, Man City target Elliot Anderson makes transfer decision with ‘race won’ for ￡65m signing
Elliot Anderson
Newcastle sent ‘relegation’ warning amid Howe ‘doubts’ as Magpies star makes ‘decision on next move’
Eddie Howe Kieran Trippier
Spurs: Dyche reveals two reasons why ‘no amount of money’ would have tempted him to accept job
Sean Dyche
Arsenal told one club will stop them winning the Champions League – ‘I’d edge towards them’
Gareth Barry Paris Saint-Germain Mailbox
‘Unwatchable’ Arsenal have made neutrals support Man City
‘Pathetic’ Arsenal are handing domestic Treble to Manchester City
Mikel Arteta Popular
Arsenal ‘bottlemageddon’ continues as Liverpool should give Slot a statue… then sack him
Arne Slot Mikel Arteta
‘Wet wipe’ Steven Gerrard and his ‘neck’ are destroyed
Popular Steven Gerrard Premier League Table Full Table
#
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
View More
Mediawatch
Slot ‘performed miracle’ with ‘ageing team’ and is not ‘getting the credit he deserves’ at Liverpool
Arne Slot Popular
England doomed to more World Cup quarter-final woe as ‘Arsenal star’ warns of ‘car crash’
De Zerbi ‘cancelled’ despite ￡60m Spurs agreement after ‘choosing not to exclude Greenwood’
Popular Roberto De Zerbi
Manchester United receive questionable ‘transfer boost’ over Tonali – and Spurs are ‘too good for’ De Zerbi
Copyright Notice: The content of this article is contributed by Internet users. The views only represent the author. This site only provides information storage services and does not own ownership or bear relevant legal responsibilities. If you find any suspected infringement or illegal content, please contact us. We will delete it immediately after verification.
