Former Manchester City defender, Micah Richards, has recently confessed that he was mistaken about one particular Arsenal player when the defender first joined the club. This revelation comes as Arsenal's recent form has forced him to reconsider his stance in the Premier League title race.
Richards lauds Mikel Arteta’s men as a “well-oiled machine” and singles out defender Gabriel Magalhães for proving him wrong. The Gunners have tightened their grip at the top of the table after a dramatic weekend where all their major rivals slipped up. Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea all suffered costly defeats, allowing Arsenal to open up a four-point lead in the title race.
Liverpool’s run of poor form continued with a fourth straight league defeat against Brentford. Aston Villa shocked Manchester City while Sunderland claimed an unlikely win over Chelsea. In contrast, Arsenal took full advantage by edging Crystal Palace 1–0 at Selhurst Park to extend their lead.
Deciding factor
Eberechi Eze’s thumping strike against his former club proved to be the difference-maker for Arsenal's victory over Crystal Palace. This sealed Arsenal’s fifth straight clean sheet and marked their tenth shutout of this campaign.
Richards had initially tipped Liverpool to defend their crown earlier in this season but now believes that it is actually Arsenal who are serious contenders due to their consistency and adaptability on field.
Unexpected Hero
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards admitted he has been especially impressed by Gabriel’s transformation since joining from Lille last summer. He praised his defensive prowess which has been instrumental in maintaining clean sheets for the team.
Micah Richards, Manchester City legend, said:
“The game [Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace] wasn’t a classic, was it. “I thought Palace did rather well in the first half, creating a few chances, but Arsenal just snuff them out and know how to kill a game. They’re so good at it.
“Gabriel, what a player he is. I wasn’t sure about him at the start, he made a couple of mistakes, I thought he looked a little clumsy. But he’s now turned into an absolute machine. He’s so key from set-pieces, for and against. People are calling Arsenal Set-piece FC but it doesn’t matter, win the game however you need to win them, that’s the most important thing.”
Arsenal are finding ways to win games and that’s why they have a strong case for winning the Premier League. Their ability to adapt, coupled with their consistent performance, has made them a formidable force in the title race. Richards' change of heart towards Arsenal and Gabriel Magalhães is reflective of the team's impressive performance this season. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can maintain their lead and clinch the Premier League title.
