Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, despite the substandard performance at Old Trafford, managed to get their 2025/26 Premier League season off to a flyer with a 1-0 win over Manchester United – but Micah Richards still believes they have a position to strengthen and has implored Arteta to sign a £78 million-worth star.
It took Riccardo Calafiori, latching onto a loose ball, to react the quickest at the far post, to open the scoring in the 13th minute. A barrage of shots from Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils kept David Raya busy – but the Spaniard was on top form.
But, despite picking up their first three points of the new campaign, there is still the need to invest in their current squad – and Richards has pinpointed a position that needs strengthening if they are to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City.
Richards Implores Arteta to Sign £78m-Worth Ace
Micah Richards
Micah Richards
On the face of it, Arteta’s men were not at their best as they kicked off the new campaign with an away visit to Old Trafford. Their nine shots were trumped by United’s 22, while Raya’s Man of the Match award was fortunate for the Gunners.
Viktor Gyokeres struggled to hit the ground running up against United’s three-man defence; and that was largely down to the likes of Gabriel Martinelli being unable to play to the talisman Swede’s most dangerous traits. The same can be said for Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Richards, talking on the Rest is Football podcast, believes that Arsenal are still a left forward short of challenging for the Premier League title this season. The defender-turned-pundit said: “I still think Arsenal are a left winger short or a left forward short.”
mikel arteta arsenal
“But Arsenal’s bench today was so strong with Lewis-Skelly and Timber coming on. Mikel Arteta can change the full-backs now and it doesn’t affect the team, the quality doesn’t go down. That will really help them throughout the season,” he continued, per The Metro.
On the left-hand side of their attack, however, Richards is under the assumption that Arteta needs to go all out for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo – who is valued at £78 million on Transfermarkt and is widely regarded as one of the best wingers in world football.
“I prefer Noni Madueke on the right so I just look at that position on the left-hand side and if they could sort that. They were linked with Rodrygo and that could solve a lot of problems for them. But it’s a massive win for Arsenal away from home and just gives them that momentum they need at the start of the season.”
Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo celebrating with the Champions League trophy
Under Xabi Alonso, most notably at the Club World Cup, the ex-Santos academy prospect struggled to earn minutes – and that has, ultimately, led to uncertainty being over his future in the Spanish capital. He currently has three years left on his deal.
Given that Arsenal have finished second in back-to-back-to-back domestic campaigns, it would be wise for Arteta and Co to bolster their frontline further before the transfer window slams shut – but will Rodrygo, 24, be the man they choose?