"Arsenal Have Done Nothing Wrong" Over North London Derby Postponement

Micah Richards has defended Arsenal, after the Gunners got their game with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday delayed due to a lack of available players.

The Gunners got a very credible draw with Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi final on Thursday night, made even more impressive by Granit Xhaka's borderline impressive sending off.

The midfielder's early bath also meant he wouldn't be available for the north London derby and Mikel Arteta's team then asked for the match to be delayed, with one Covid case also in their ranks.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Manchester City full back said the Gunners had done nothing wrong and was bemused by all the criticism.

"In my opinion, they've done nothing wrong. Let's be honest, other clubs would do the same thing, it's not an Arsenal thing," the Sky pundit said.

"Every team in the Premier League would look after themselves & if they say they wouldn't then they're lying."

On that occasion the positive Covid tests that led to the postponement ended up being false positives, with only one player actually testing for the virus.

Whilst Richards, and Arsenal fans, backed the decision for the game to go ahead, many pointed out that Leeds United have had to play their youngsters for a big chunk of the season due to injuries.

Marcelo Bielsa's side were once again left short on Sunday against West Ham, in what was supposed to be the precursor to the north London derby, when two players went off injured.

The Yorkshire side had to bring on teenagers Lewis Bate and Leo Hjelde in the first half.