Micah Richards notes the Man City player who can stop ‘frightening’ Arsenal star

In order to neutralize Gabriel Martinelli’s threat in tonight’s Premier League championship game between Arsenal and Manchester City, Micah Richards has encouraged Pep Guardiola to call up Kyle Walker.

Walker has played a key role in the City machine that has dominated the domestic scene under Pep Guardiola, but his manager has switched to a new four-man defense that is made up solely of nominal center-halves in recent weeks, reducing Walker’s playing time.

Martinelli, meantime, has maintained his outstanding play despite Arsenal’s current slump, which has seen them lose three straight games and lose the initiative in an exciting title fight.

The Brazil international will probably present one of Arsenal’s finest opportunities to overcome City’s infamous press and secure an improbable victory, but Richards thinks Walker is the perfect counterpunch.

MORE : ‘I will kill them!’ Mikel Arteta issues threat to Arsenal stars ahead of Man City showdown

The former City defender stated to Football Daily on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘The Southampton game was a little bit different [to draws against Liverpool and West Ham], having not played that well and managing to score two late goals.

‘Even though at the end they were all on the floor distraught, I just believe they were always going to have to go to Manchester City to win if they want to win the league.

‘There were always going to be bumps in the road and for Arsenal fans. I don’t think anything has changed. It’s just going to the Etihad right now is a difficult task.

‘The pressure is off Arsenal because everyone expects City to win that game. One way to play against City is on the counter-attack. I would play [Kyle] Walker in that game to stop Martinelli.

‘His pace is frightening. Everyone talks about [Bukayo] Saka and [Martin] Odegaard, but nobody talks about Martinelli.

‘On transition, he is frightening.’