Gary Lineker exposes Micah Richards after revealing what he caught him saying off-air before Arsenal vs Man Utd

Gary Lineker exposed Micah Richards after hearing what he said to Theo Walcott during television coverage of Arsenal vs Man Utd.

On Sunday, a determined Manchester United side beat Arsenal on penalties after playing much of the game with 10 men following the 61^st-minute dismissal of Diogo Dalot.

However, they remained resolute in defence and scored all five of their penalties to secure a place in the fourth round.

The game was free-to-air with the BBC reporting that a peak audience of 7.4m tuned into the tie between United and Arsenal.

And fans were greeted by a broadcasting team of Lineker, 64, Richards, 36, and former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott.

But on Monday, Lineker and Richards were joined on their podcast ‘The Rest Is Football’ by the Premier League’s record goalscorer Alan Shearer.

In a clip posted to the podcast’s official X page, Lineker referred to Arsenal as “your team” to the bemusement of Richards who replied: “My team? Is that how you’re addressing it now.”

🗣️ @GaryLineker: "I caught him Alan, I heard him saying we!"

Gary wasn't letting Big Meeks get away with it 😂 pic.twitter.com/1LTDAbq39N

— The Rest Is Football (@RestIsFootball) January 13, 2025

Before Lineker added: “The team that I caught you talking to Theo [about] before the game saying, ‘I think we’re going to win this’.

“You used the term ‘we’; I caught him, Alan, I heard him say ‘we.’”

Shearer saw the funny side and explained how the “pile on of Man United fans” was “about to start”.

However, Richards then quipped: “I did say, when it went to penalty kicks, that I’m an impartial pundit… and whoever wins deserves it.

"But… you’ve already let the secret out of the bag. I love Man City and I love Arsenal, simple as that, Gary.”

Of course, as you may know, Richards came through the ranks at Manchester City, going on to make 245 appearances for the club, before leaving the club in 2015 with a FA Cup and Premier League winners medal to show for his efforts.

Ironically, he made his senior debut for City in a match against Arsenal in October 2005 coming on as a late substitute in a 1-0 defeat at Highbury.

While working for CBS alongside Kate Scott and Jamie Carragher in March, Richards explained how he had Patrick Viera's and Thierry Henry's shirts as a youngster.

"Everyone knows I was an Arsenal fan growing up but I have so much respect for Man City," said Richards.