Gary Lineker had Micah Richards in bits as he did an impersonation of his and Roy Keane’s debate after Arsenal and Manchester City’s draw.
Despite being a former Man City player, Richards had high praise for the Gunners for keeping Man City at bay in the second half after Leandora Trossard’s red card just before the break.
3
His fellow Sky Sports pundit, ex-Manchester United midfielder Keane, wasn’t having the argument that Arsenal were that impressive given they still conceded twice.
And Lineker obviously enjoyed the pair’s back and forth that much that he couldn’t help bring it up on The Rest Is Football podcast he, Richards and Alan Shearer do together.
“Let me quote Roy Keane at you, Micah,” Lineker said.
When Richards told him to go ahead, the ex-England striker put on what we think was Keane’s Irish accent, and said: “They conceded two goals.”
Richards cracked up laughing as a result, falling back in his seat.
“That was a great little tete-a-tete between the two of you where he basically wasn’t having it,” Lineker smiled.
Asked by Shearer if it was a row, Lineker – this time without the accent – continued: “It wasn’t a row, but let’s say Roy wanted to make his points.
“He went ‘well anyone can just defend, it’s easy’ and ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about Micah, they conceded two goals, they can’t be that good’.”
“It was ridiculous!” Richards laughed. “Absolutely ridiculous. He knows how to spark them conversations.”
Lineker simply smiled: “He knows how to be Roy Keane!”
3
Man City had originally gone ahead in the ninth minute through striker Erling Haaland, who bagged his record-levelling 100th goal for Man City.
A long-range effort for Riccardo Calafiori and a classic Gabriel header from a corner put the Gunners ahead before the break.
It was backs against the wall for them from there, and their defence hard work was finally undone in the eighth minute of stoppage time as John Stones fired home after some last ditch blocks in the box landed at his feet to equalise.
But despite having to settle for a point, Richards still stands by his praise of Arsenal.
“That was genuinely [Keane’s] opinion on the situation,” he continued. “He said how can they play outstandingly well if you conceded two goals.
“I understand for the first one, but Haaland can do that to anyone. Haaland can do that when he runs through one on one. I was talking more about the second half.”
Keane didn’t just take on Richards’ view on Arsenal’s performance.
He also took issue with Gunners boss Arteta’s post-match comments about the referee’s decisions, telling him to ‘have a bit of class’.
Never change, Roy.
