13 March 2024 , 00:12
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Micah Richards wore an Arsenal shirt on two separate occasions during CBS Sports' Champions League coverage of their penalty shootout win over Porto.
The pundit, who made his name at Manchester City and is synonymous with the Sky Blues, is in fact a Gunners fan. Prior to kick-off, Jamie Carragher presented Richards with an Arsenal shirt with 'Micah' and the No. 2 on the back.
Much to the delight of the Arsenal fans situated opposite of CBS' makeshift studio on the pitch, Richards put the shirt on. "You've always tried to be an Arsenal man, you've had the crowd singing your name," Carragher delightfully said as he handed over the shirt.
Following the penalty shootout win, thanks to David Raya's heroics, a small selection of Arsenal fans had stayed behind to watch CBS Sports' full-time analysis and began chanting, 'Micah Richards (is) a Gooner'.
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Carragher once again whipped out the shirt, putting it on Richards for a second time. When asked by Kate Abdo how many shirts he had as a youngster, Richards replied: "I had two shirts. Vieira first and Thierry Henry" - still has them at home."
He added: "Why are you doing this to me, guys? Can you show some respect to my team please."
In response to Henry saying he looks like he likes it, Richards replied: "Everyone knows I was an Arsenal fan growing up but I have so much respect for Man City."
Micah Richards puts on his Arsenal shirt gift (CBS Sports)This isn't the first team Richards has opened up on who he supports, discussing his allegiance with the Gunners on BBC's The Rest Is Football podcast.
"I grew up an Arsenal fan," Richards declared. "Not a lot of people know that actually because I went to Manchester at 14, everyone thinks I'm a Manc. I'm actually a Leeds lad.
"And I loved Thierry Henry and Vieira. My debut was Highbury away. When we used to travel back then we would have 21 players or two more, if anyone gets injured or ill they would come into the team. So I had no clue I was going to be on the bench that day, I thought I was going to be in the stand.
"And I just remember (Stuart) Pearce reading out the starting line-up and bench. I was 17, you don't think you're going to be involved. You're just thinking who's got the best pies, what we going to get for after, are we going to have a drink at half-time.
"Then I was in, 'Oh my god I'm in'. Then you go in and see Thierry Henry warming up, and Vieira. And not only that Stuart Pearce brings me on. But don't bring me on as a defender, he brings me on a striker. Useless. He just goes, 'Go up there and cause some f****** carnage, son'. I went up there, throwing my arms and legs, and everything."