{"id":5686,"date":"2026-04-05T10:37:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T10:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5686"},"modified":"2026-04-05T10:37:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T10:37:49","slug":"micah-richards-slams-mikel-arteta-decision-after-arsenals-fa-cup-exit-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=5686","title":{"rendered":"Micah Richards slams Mikel Arteta decision after Arsenal’s FA Cup exit | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Micah Richards has taken aim at Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Micah Richards has issued a Premier League title warning to Arsenal after their FA Cup defeat to Southampton and criticised Mikel Arteta for not playing David Raya.<\/p>\n

An Arsenal side who had outside chances of winning a historic quadruple just two weeks ago have now fallen short in two competitions.<\/p>\n

The Gunners lost 2-0 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final before the international break before being knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Southampton.<\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2019s first back-to-back defeats of the season means the club\u2019s only hopes of winning a trophy this season lie in the Premier League and Champions League.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s side boast a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League but Manchester City have a game in hand and a home match against Arsenal to try and close the gap.<\/p>\n

Man City stumbled twice before the international break, dropping points against Nottingham Forest and West Ham, but beat Arsenal in a Wembley final before thumping Liverpool 4-0 to storm into the FA Cup semi-finals.<\/p>\n

Richards now expects Pep Guardiola\u2019s team to push Arsenal \u2018all the way\u2019 in the title race and insists the Gunners\u2019 recent slump will be concerning for Arteta.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Southampton\t<\/div>
Mikel Arteta after Arsenal\u2019s defeat to Southampton (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But the ex-England defender believes Arteta could have made life easier for himself by picking first-choice goalkeeper Raya ahead of back-up Kepa Arrizabalaga.<\/p>\n

Richards admitted Arrizabalaga, who made a howler in the Carabao Cup final, was not at fault for either of Southampton\u2019s goals at St Mary\u2019s but was still baffled by Arteta\u2019s decision not to \u2018play his best team\u2019 with a trophy on the line.<\/p>\n

\u2018There is going to be so much noise around them now,\u2019 Richards said on BBC One after Arsenal\u2019s FA Cup exit.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Southampton\t<\/div>
Kepa Arrizabalaga during Arsenal\u2019s FA Cup exit (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018With Arsenal against Man City you can get beat in a final. Tonight you asked me if I would play [David] Raya. I don\u2019t think it was anything to do with him in terms of them losing, but you have to play your best team.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was only a couple of weeks ago people were saying Arsenal could do the quadruple, now they are in two competitions.<\/p>\n

\u2018Man City, after what they did earlier on [beating Liverpool 4-0], they look like they are going to push them all the way for the league and the Champions League \u2013 anyone can win that.<\/p>\n

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\u2018The most disappointing thing for me was watching them and their attitude.<\/p>\n

\u2018They 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.<\/p>\n

\u2018For them to turn up the way they did today, I thought was very poor.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Arteta admitted he was \u2018very disappointed\u2019 after Arsenal\u2019s FA Cup exit and criticised both his side\u2019s defending and efforts in the final third.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re very disappointed in the manner that we lost the opportunity to get back to Wembley,\u2019 the Gunners boss said.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think we again had many, many periods of dominance from our side when we generated chances and situations \u2013 we didn\u2019t capitalise on that enough.<\/p>\n

\u2018And then when you defend in and around the box and directly in the manner that we did today, you\u2019re going to put yourself in a really difficult position.<\/p>\n

\u2018They did capitalise on that, and that\u2019s the reason why they are through and we are out.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arsenal have little time to wallow as they start a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Portuguese giants Sporting on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

Arteta\u2019s side resume their Premier League campaign with a home match against Bournemouth at the weekend.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: \u2018Real shame\u2019 \u2013 Concern for Chelsea as \u00a352m signing suffers new injury<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Alan Shearer makes Arsenal title claim after shock FA Cup exit<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Micah Richards claims Arsenal would \u2018absolutely batter\u2019 Champions League giants<\/span><\/p>\n
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