Arsenal No Longer Able To 'Attract Top Players' And Are Signing 'Second-Tier' Talent

Arsenal cannot attract the "top, top players" because they want to go to "the better performing teams" at this moment in time, according to Micah Richards.

After defeats against newly-promoted Brentford and European champions Chelsea in their opening games of the Premier League campaign, Mikel Arteta's struggling side currently sit in 19th place.

In their most recent defeat against Chelsea at the Emirates, home fans voiced their displeasure at Arsenal's below-par performance, jeering both their manager and the players at full-time.

Despite spending £132 million on the likes of Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale in this summer's window, Arteta remains under pressure at the helm.

In fact, in regards to their transfer business, Micah Richards has accused the North London club of "panic buying" and believes the best players no longer want to sign for Arsenal.

"At this moment, Arsenal can't attract the top, top players, because players want to go to the better performing teams at this moment in time," he told BBC 5Live Sport.

"When you say they've spent a lot of money, they're buying second-tier players, or players with good potential who could become that.

"You should think that the manager's got some input in the players that they're getting. But I just think with Arsenal now, they've got themselves in such a rut, they've done a couple of panic buys."

Richards continued, saying: "They signed [Pierre-Emerick] Aubamayeng to his new contract and he's not done much since that, and then it's like everyone's gone forwards and they've stayed still.

"They've been trying to control the finances, and gone out and spent £132million. No disrespect, Ramsdale's had three relegations in his career.

"They're signing for the future, it's almost as if they've conceded they're not going to get world-class players. Unfortunately, buying young players is going to cost Arteta his job because he's not going to be able to do the business."

Thoughts on Richards' latest comments? Has he got a point?

Let us know in the comments.

Topics: Micah Richards, Premier League, Arsenal, Mikel Arteta

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_