Ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards has called on Pep Guardiola to name Kyle Walker in the starting eleven against Arsenal on Wednesday evening.
The 32-year-old has been a bit-part player in recent months, with the Citizens having changed their system, but Richards believes his former club need Walker’s pace to combat Gabriel Martinelli:
“One way to play against City is on the counter-attack. I would play [Kyle] Walker in that game to stop Martinelli. His pace is frightening. Everyone talks about [Bukayo] Saka and [Martin] Odegaard, but nobody talks about Martinelli. On transition, he is frightening.”
It’s a well-argued point that Richards makes. Martinelli is a massive threat down the Gunners’ left flank and, if City do play three at the back as they have done in most matches recently, they could be exposed on the counter-attack.
Guardiola may feel that the switch in formation has worked well for City, with the club having won six games on the spin in the league so he may consider selecting Walker at right centre-back again.
The England international played in the position against Sheffield United in the FA Cup at the weekend so there is a possibility he could keep his place versus Arsenal.
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