Micah Richards believes one poor decision from Mikel Arteta is the reason why Arsenal failed to win the Premier League title.
The Gunners were excellent for large parts of the 2023/24 season. They were arguably the best team in the Premier League as well more often than not last term.
However, Manchester City proved to be much better in the end as they went on an incredible run to win their fourth consecutive title.
Richards can’t help but think Arteta made a mistake in the run-in.
Micah Richards names the Mikel Arteta mistake that cost Arsenal the Premier League title
Arsenal had a near-flawless 2024 in the Premier League.
The Gunners dropped just five points since the turn of the year – two against Manchester City in the draw at the Etihad and all three against Aston Villa at home.
That game against Unai Emery‘s side proved to be the killer for Arsenal.
The North Londoners were excellent in the first half that day, but for one reason or another, they just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Arsenal’s level completely dropped in the second half, and Villa punished them with late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.
While speaking about Arsenal not winning the Premier League title in the 2023/24 season, Richards brought up that game against Aston Villa.
He suggested that Arteta made a mistake playing Kai Havertz in midfield instead of deploying him in the false nine role, where he had done really well.
Richards said on the Rest is Football podcast: “I just go back to that Villa game, Arsenal v Villa at home.
“Arteta chose to go with Havertz in the midfield area instead of the false nine which has worked so well for them. Could’ve went with a Jorginho or Partey.
“Emery, on the day, tactically got it spot on. So, yeah, disappointed.”
The two other games that cost Arsenal
Defeats over the course of the season are normal, and every team has to go through that.
Arsenal’s defeat to Aston Villa was definitely the game that cost them the Premier League title, but that loss wouldn’t have hurt so much if they had picked up all three points in two other games.
Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw against Fulham early in the season. They were 2-1 up with a man advantage with just a few minutes left on the clock, but they conceded in the 87th minute.
Then, just before the turn of the year, Arsenal suffered a shock defeat to West Ham United at home. Arteta’s men were completely the better side that day, but they couldn’t find the net.
The Hammers punished them, and that contributed to their failure to win the Premier League title.