Micah Richards sheds light on Mikel Arteta’s ONE key mistake which cost Arsenal the Premier League title – after Gunners miss out on league honours for the second season in a row
- Micah Richards believes a Mikel Arteta mistake was costly in the title race
- Arsenal finished two points behind champions Manchester City this season
- Are Pep’s City the best the Premier League has ever seen? Listen to the It all starts podcast
Micah Richards has claimed that one mistake from Mikel Arteta cost Arsenal the Premier League title this season.
Arteta’s team finished just two points behind Manchester City, who won the Premier League for the fourth season in a row.
Arsenal were able to take many positives from the season, with their level of performance being at a very high standard for much of the season.
Arsenal won 28 of 38 league games, while drawing five and losing five.
However, Richards believes that had Arteta not made one particular mistake, the Gunners could have been champions.
Micah Richards claimed one mistake from Mikel Arteta was costly in the title race
Richards says a tactical change from Arteta was a key factor in City retaining the title
Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa on April 14 is seen as a particularly costly defeat in the title race.
Arteta’s side capitulated late, with Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins scoring for Villa in the closing stages.
Richards believes Arteta made a mistake by moving Kai Havertz from the false nine position, in which he performed very well, to midfield. He suggested Arteta should have started another midfielder such as Jorginho or Thomas Partey instead.
Speaking The Rest Is Football podcastRichards said: “I just go back to that Villa game, Arsenal against Villa at home.
‘Arteta opted to work with Havertz in midfield rather than the false nine that has worked so well for them. Could have gone with a Jorginho or Partey.
Arsenal conceded two late goals at home against Aston Villa as they suffered a costly defeat
Richards believes Arteta was wrong to use Kai Havertz in midfield rather than as a false nine
‘Emery managed it perfectly tactically that day. So yeah, disappointed.”
Arsenal also lost 1-0 away to Aston Villa earlier this season, while the defeats against West Ham and Fulham during the festive period were also frustrating for Arteta. Arsenal lost 1-0 to Newcastle in November but could feel badly affected by the referees’ decisions.
Arteta can also look back on the 2-2 home draw against Fulham in August, when Arsenal conceded a late equalizer to Joao Palhinha, as a precious moment.
