Micah Richards rates Arsenal’s Premier League title chances after Rodri injury

Micah Richards believes Rodri’s injury makes the Premier League title race far ‘more balanced’ and it is now a ’50-50′ battle between Arsenal and Manchester City for the trophy.

Rodri, widely regarded as the finest holding midfielder in world football, went down in a heap with a knee problem in the first half of City’s 2-2 thriller with Arsenal and appeared in some discomfort as he hobbled off the pitch to be replaced by Mateo Kovacic.

City are yet to provide confirmation over the severity of Rodri’s issue but widespread reports on Monday indicated that the 28-year-old had sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury and would miss the remainder of the campaign.

Rodri returned to his native Spain to visit a specialist for further tests on Tuesday and Pep Guardiola confirmed the four-time Premier League winner would be out for ‘a long time’ in the wake of City’s Carabao Cup third-round win over Watford.

‘We will lose Rodri for a long time,’ the City head coach told reporters at his post-match press conference.

‘But there’s some opinions that it will be less than we expect.

‘We’re waiting for the last phone calls and the type of surgery he needs. We will know soon.’

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, former City defender Richards said he was ‘absolutely devastated’ for the Spain international.

‘I’m absolutely devastated for him,’ Richards said.

‘He’s the one who passionately spoke about there being too many games and then he goes and get injured so it’s a sad day for Manchester City.

‘I think it makes it more balanced in terms of Arsenal’s chances of winning the league. I don’t think it makes them favourites but I think it’s 50-50 now.’

Richards feels City’s decision to re-sign Ilkay Gundogan could prove to be a ‘masterstroke’ following Rodri’s injury, with Matheus Nunes yet to ‘step up enough’ at the Etihad.

‘He’s the best holding midfielder in world football, I think we all agree on that,’ the ex-England international added.

‘I think it’s been a bit of a masterstroke getting Gundogan back in. Obviously they didn’t know Rodri was going to get injured.

‘People forget they’ve still got Matheus Nunes from Wolves who is a very good player.

‘But in terms of the system that Manchester City want to play on the ball and the way they dictate play, Nunes has not stepped up enough yet with the games he’s been given and it’s been difficult.

‘It’s a huge miss. It’s not just his stature, it’s not just his passing… he knows the tactical plan, he controls the tempo of football matches and not a lot of players can do that.’

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