Speaking on the BBC Radio Five Live Football Daily Podcast, Micah Richards has been discussing Arsenal and the job Mikel Arteta has on his hands.
The Gunners have gotten off to the worst possible start this season. Two games, two losses, zero goals, and Richards has been dissecting their situation.
As a childhood Arsenal fan, Richards has a lot of time for the Gunners, and he says he feels sorry for Arteta due to the hand he has been dealt.
What’s been said?
Richards gave his view on the Gunners’ situation.
“We talk about Arsenal and I used to love Arsenal growing up, but I feel a little bit sorry for Arteta in terms of the hand he has been given, and maybe it’s a job he took a little too soon,” Richards said.
“I’ve seen him in action and he’s a very good coach, but being a manager is completely different, you have to deal with a lot more in terms of the players you want and who you have to shift out.”
Tough hand
Richards says Arteta has been dealt a bad hand, but it’s hard to agree with that view.
Yes, this is an Arsenal squad that is poor, but that isn’t to say they’re not underachieving.
Unai Emery had the Gunners in eighth place when he was sacked, just one point away from fifth-place, and Arteta hasn’t been able to improve on that, finishing eighth in both seasons he’s had so far.
Factor in that Arsenal have spent close to £140m this summer, and it’s hard to feel sorry for Arteta.
Yes, this is a leaky ship, but it’s a ship Arteta is steering, and he’s not doing a very good job of it.
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