Micah Richards’ ‘odd’ claim about Noni Madueke had Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer in stitches
Micah Richards had one doubt about Noni Madueke’s first goal against Club Brugge during Arsenal’s 3-0 win.
Madueke scored a brace to take his Champions League tally to three goals in three appearances.
The 23-year-old stole the headlines, not for the two goals he scored, but largely for the first one he netted, which was an absolute screamer.
Even Club Brugge’s players were stunned by Madueke’s goal, but watching from afar, Micah Richards doubted whether the winger meant the finish.
Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Micah Richards thought Noni Madueke’s first goal against Club Brugge was unintentional
Gary Lineker made his thoughts on Arsenal’s win known when speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, as did Richards.
The difference between the two opinions was that the former Manchester City defender’s take was met with a wall of laughter.
Talking about Madueke’s goal, Richards made the following claim.
“Can I ask you about the technique of that strike? Because he’s taken the shot but I don’t think he actually meant to do that, I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s because of the height of where the ball went.”
Finish my sentence: The BEST but FLUKIEST Arsenal goal in history was scored by…………
Credit: Getty Images/Catherine Steenkeste
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Richards assured that it was an ‘amazing goal’ regardless, and that his aim wasn’t to discredit Madueke’s performance in any way, but that didn’t change that Lineker thought he was joking.
“Did you think it was a cross?” Lineker laughed.
Richards responded, “I just thought the technique was odd, the way he was falling back.”
A figure who scored plenty of goals in his career, Alan Shearer, then got involved in the chat, finding it impossible to hold back his laughter.
“I don’t wanna be disrespectful to him, but I don’t think he meant it,” he joked, as Lineker asked Richards again, “What do you mean he didn’t mean it?”
Lineker then came to his own conclusion about how the goal was executed.
“What happened was the ball got in a slightly awkward position, and I think he manipulated it to ensure he kept it down. I think that’s what it was.”
That didn’t end the debate, however, as Richards then went on to call the finish ‘weird’.
“I just think he hit the ball earlier than when the ball was coming across, then that meant that the ball went up instead of a bendy one, it went up and hit the bar, it was a weird technique.”
Lineker clearly just wanted to bring the discussion to an end, saying, “Well, whatever it was it was a bit special.”
Arsenal are already seeing a side of Madueke that Chelsea rarely did
As Lineker said, whether he meant for the ball to fly the way it did or not, it was a tremendous goal from Madueke.
Any goal the 23-year-old scored would’ve pleased Arteta; however, seeing his summer signing scoring outside of the box would’ve been even sweeter.
What do you think Enzo Maresca is saying to Chelsea right now about Noni Madueke’s sale?
Credit: Getty Images/Jonathan Moscrop/Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC
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That’s because Madueke has already matched his tally of goals from outside the box for Chelsea.
In 80 fewer appearances, the winger has shown another side of his game that was rarely seen at Stamford Bridge, really rubbing salt in the wounds of Arsenal’s rivals.
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