{"id":313835,"date":"2026-04-05T15:45:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T10:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=313835"},"modified":"2026-04-05T15:45:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T10:15:50","slug":"micah-richards-slams-mikel-arteta-decision-after-arsenals-fa-cup-exit-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/05\/micah-richards-slams-mikel-arteta-decision-after-arsenals-fa-cup-exit-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Micah Richards slams Mikel Arteta decision after Arsenal’s FA Cup exit | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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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 possibilities 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 within 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 within the Premier League and Champions League.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s side boast a nine-point lead at the highest of the Premier League but Manchester City have a game in hand and a house match against Arsenal to try to 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 in which\u2019 within the title race and insists the Gunners\u2019 recent slump will probably be concerning for Arteta.<\/p>\n

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

However 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 within 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 to not \u2018play his best team\u2019 with a trophy on the road.<\/p>\n

\u2018There may be going to be a lot noise around them now,\u2019 Richards said on BBC One<\/a> 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 possibly can get beat in a final. Tonight you asked me if I’d play [David] Raya. I don\u2019t think it was anything to do with him by way of them losing, but you’ve to play your best team.<\/p>\n

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

\u2018Man City, after what they did earlier on [beating Liverpool 4-0], they appear like they’ll push all of them the way in which for the league and the Champions League \u2013 anyone can win that.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Essentially the most disappointing thing for me was watching them and their attitude.<\/p>\n

\u2018They’ve been excellent defensively, in transitions they’ve been superb, the form has been good and the trouble has been nearly as good as anyone.<\/p>\n

\u2018For them to show up the way in which they did today, I assumed was very poor.\u2019<\/p>\n

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

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

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

\u2018After which once you defend in and across the box and directly in the style that we did today, you\u2019re going to place yourself in a very difficult position.<\/p>\n

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

Arsenal have little time to wallow as they begin 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 house match against Bournemouth on the weekend.<\/p>\n

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

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

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

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

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