{"id":2590,"date":"2026-04-14T08:12:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T08:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=2590"},"modified":"2026-04-14T08:12:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T08:12:39","slug":"gary-lineker-forced-to-change-tune-on-arsenal-as-micah-richards-puts-him-on-the-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=2590","title":{"rendered":"Gary Lineker forced to change tune on Arsenal as Micah Richards puts him on the spot"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_734104\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Arsenal are struggling at the wrong time with Manchester City now breathing down their necks ahead of Sunday&#8217;s crunch meeting between the two Premier League title rivals<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33760712\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Gary Lineker speaks on the Rest is \" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33760712.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Lineker-2.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33760712.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Lineker-2.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33760712.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Lineker-2.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33760712.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Lineker-2.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Gary Lineker has had his say on the Premier League title race\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Gary Lineker has had his say on the Premier League title race<cite aria-label=\"Image: The Rest is Football\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: The Rest is Football)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gary Lineker now believes Manchester City will win the Premier League title over Arsenal this season after being put on the spot by Micah Richards. Mikel Arteta&#8217;s side are struggling having suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gunners fans will have hoped that Tuesday&#8217;s 1-0 win at Sporting in the Champions League would have sparked them into life. That win followed disappointing defeats in the Carabao Cup final to City and FA Cup at Championship side Southampton.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But Arsenal appeared to freeze against Andoni Iraola&#8217;s team and were outplayed against the 11th-placed Cherries. Goals from Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott, either side of a Viktor Gyokeres penalty, put a serious dent in their ambitions of winning a first Premier League title since 2004.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And the Gunners&#8217; defeat was compounded by second-placed City winning 3-0 at Chelsea on Sunday &#8211; just a week before they meet Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola&#8217;s side are now just six points behind Arteta&#8217;s side, with a game in hand over them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFCFootball.London#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The contrasting form of both City and Arsenal has now led football broadcaster Lineker to tell <a aria-label=\"The Rest is FootballLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/2fDn3EgvJZ5J1k5rrBwrlZ\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">The Rest is Football<\/a> that he thinks Guardiola&#8217;s team will come out on top, having backed Arsenal for much of the campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When asked by pundit Richards for his thoughts on the title race, he said: &#8220;I&#8217;ve always thought, &#8216;Well Arsenal will be fine, they&#8217;re not going to choke, they&#8217;ll be all right.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;But since he&#8217;s changed back to the three at the top, and the way Arsenal are stuttering and have lost their form at the moment.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-33756454\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"33756454\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 11, 2026\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33756454.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_GettyImages-2270285228.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33756454.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_GettyImages-2270285228.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33756454.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_GettyImages-2270285228.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article33756454.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_GettyImages-2270285228.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mikel Arteta's side endured a disastrous afternoon at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mikel Arteta&#8217;s side endured a disastrous afternoon at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday<cite aria-label=\"Image: AFP or licensors\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: AFP or licensors)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;You know how important momentum is in not just football, in all sport. Momentum is so important, and all the momentum now is with City.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;So I think it&#8217;s so tough to call now&#8230; but if you need to put your life on the line \u2013 which I&#8217;d hate to have to do under these circumstances \u2013 I&#8217;d probably now go City because I think they will win next week, but you never know.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal face Sporting in the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday before the potential title decider at City. And Arteta has promised an immediate response.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Spaniard said: &#8220;We&#8217;re going to do it, for sure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Because the way we all feel now with the hope and the ambition that we have for this game, we&#8217;re going to see an immediate reaction, I&#8217;m convinced about that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.football.london\/article29688868.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal are struggling at the wrong time with Manchester City now breathing down their necks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2590"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2590\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}