Micah Richards has named the signing Arsenal should make to ‘solve a lot of problems’ after their opening Premier League victory over Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta’s side, who are expected to challenge for the title yet again after three successive second-place finishes, began the 2025-26 campaign with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.
The Gunners were far from at their fluent best but were gifted an early goal following a mistake from United back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and then withstood significant pressure from the hosts to return to north London with the three points.
Ex-England defender Richards described it as a ‘massive win’ for Arsenal and said the team’s strength in depth was impressive after Arteta used Myles Lewis-Kelly and Jurrien Timber as second-half substitutes.
The only real weakness Richards saw in Arsenal was at left-wing, where Gabriel Martinelli started before being replaced by ex-Chelsea star Noni Madueke, who prefers to operate off the right.
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Richards believes Arsenal would benefit from the addition of another left-winger before the transfer deadline and says signing Real Madrid’s Rodrigo would ‘solve a lot of problems’.
Arteta expressed interest in signing Rodrygo earlier in the summer but the Gunners are not currently pursuing the Brazilian, who is valued at around £80m.
Arsenal were interested in Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who could have played on the left, but it is their north London rivals Tottenham who are closing in on £68m deal.
‘I still think Arsenal are a left winger short or a left forward short,’ former Manchester City defender Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘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. 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 at the start of the season.’
Mikel Arteta ‘very happy’ with Arsenal win
While Arsenal were not at their best at Old Trafford, Arteta was full of praise for the ‘resilience’ his team showed to beat an improved Manchester United.
‘We came here away and won which is a big result. We were clearly not at our best,’ the Gunners boss told BBC’s Match of the Day.
‘We attacked the box and we reacted well to unusual mistakes. The team reacted time after time in an incredible way. Very proud of that because that is why we got the opportunity to win the game.
‘We showed a resilience and a will to win. They put you on the ropes here, you will have to have moments when you suffer. To find a way to win at this ground, I’m very happy with the team.’
Arsenal will look to make it two wins from two next Saturday when Premier League new-boys Leeds United visit the Emirates Stadium.
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