Micah Richards condemned Arsenal’s performance in their 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Championship side Southampton at St Mary’s, calling it “very poor” and questioning the squad’s attitude across back-to-back cup eliminations.
Substitute Shea Charles secured the win for Southampton in the 85th minute, ending Arsenal’s treble pursuit just a fortnight after their Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
Speaking on BBC Sport after the defeat, Richards acknowledged the broader context but drew a clear line between results and performance.
“There is going to be so much noise around it. With Arsenal against Man City you can get beat in a final. Tonight you asked me if I would play [David] Raya. I don’t think it was anything to do with him in terms of them losing, but you have to play your best team.
“It was only a couple of weeks ago people were saying Arsenal could do the quadruple, Now they are in two competitions. Man City, after what they did earlier on, look like they are going to push them all the way for the league and the Champions League – anyone can win that.
“The most disappointing thing for me was watching them and their attitude. They have been excellent defensively, in transitions they have been very good, the shape has been good and the effort has been as good as anyone.
“For them to turn up the way they did today, I thought was very poor.”
Arsenal remain nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, with a Champions League quarter-final first leg at Sporting CP to come on April 7.
