Micah Richards has suggested AFTV are piling the pressure on Arsenal's players amid their slump in form because comments from the fan channel are affecting players' confidence.
The Gunners' crisis on the pitch this season continued as they were hammered in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by Manchester City in a 4-1 defeat.
Mikel Arteta's men are also sat way down in 15th position in the Premier League table and have failed to win any of their last seven top-flight fixtures and have not taken the lead in such a fixture since November.
The Spaniard's position as boss has therefore been question but Sportsmail columnist Richards believes AFTV - which he admits he loves watching - are adding further issues to the internal problems at the club through their excessive criticism of the team.
The former Man City right-back also urged Arteta to give youth a chance now, believing some experienced players like midfielder Granit Xhaka have become 'a bit of a scapegoat'.
'I would just play the kids. The kids are better than some of the senior players,' Richards told Sky Sports.
'People talk about Granit Xhaka and I feel sorry for him because I think he's a bit of a scapegoat but just play the kids.
'They're playing with more freedom, with more confidence.
'You know AFTV, I'm a massive fan of it, I love it. But for the players, the amount of pressure… you could be scrolling through and your name pops up and someone's being horrible and it can affect your confidence.
'These players now look at social media. Players work hard, trying to be better every day but there's negativity…'
AFTV, previously known as ArsenalFanTV, was started in 2012 by Robbie Lyle and is a YouTube channel and website directed at supporters of the club.
Richards' comments came on the same night as fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp named the Gunners' experienced stars as ' a team full of kidders'.
Ashikgunner123
1
He also said Arteta>Lampard, Maitland-Niles>Azpilicueta, "Lampard did nothing special at Chelsea because he took them from 3rd to 4th" and many more BS. He is only sensible when we are losing games. But when we go on a good run of form, he'll revert back to default setting aka delusion again😂
yesss bro .we 2 always chatted when we had bad times .Now it seems we got a win to celebrate .😂
Fokckpuz
0
rubbish players & rubbish coach
There's nothing rubbish in Arsenal. If they were scoring no one would be saying anything negative about them. I've been seeing very good signs in the team--the ball goes to dangerous areas easily. That's what the senior players were not achieving.
Fokckpuz
0
Leave out Aubameyang. He does not want to play for Arsenal. Playing the kids is the right thing for Arteta to do. They fight hard and have no funny feelings in their hearts.
Ashikgunner123
1
He also said Arteta>Lampard, Maitland-Niles>Azpilicueta, "Lampard did nothing special at Chelsea because he took them from 3rd to 4th" and many more BS. He is only sensible when we are losing games. But when we go on a good run of form, he'll revert back to default setting aka delusion again😂
🤣🤣🤣😂Thats quite funny 😂.But Troopz is mad at arsenal any way 😂😂😂Aubama Bloot Clat Yang🔴⚪.Im still waiting for a win 🥺Next stop, Chelsea.🤕
Gunners4ever❤
1
Any way every one has his or her own view .So U cannot directly say that 'u are wrong' others views .U think that Turkish is better but I think DT is sensible .Any ways as I said its all the views of different people .And what has DT done .Has he done a crime ? He just says bellerin is bad and i agree that he said xhaka is f*****g bad .But what's wrong in that he is f*****g bad .😏
He also said Arteta>Lampard, Maitland-Niles>Azpilicueta, "Lampard did nothing special at Chelsea because he took them from 3rd to 4th" and many more BS. He is only sensible when we are losing games. But when we go on a good run of form, he'll revert back to default setting aka delusion again😂
Ashikgunner123
1
DT is silent?? Are you serious man?🤣🤣🤣He always talks out of his arse🤣🤣When Turkish was saying we will surely lose against Chelsea, he meant it because most of our fans who were realistic didn't think we stood much of a chance. So you can't blame him for that.
Any way every one has his or her own view .So U cannot directly say that 'u are wrong' others views .U think that Turkish is better but I think DT is sensible .Any ways as I said its all the views of different people .And what has DT done .Has he done a crime ? He just says bellerin is bad and i agree that he said xhaka is f*****g bad .But what's wrong in that he is f*****g bad .😏
Zezmp
1
The fans pay and look forward every game for some comfort. What the players do , gets pay way more live the best life and break our hearts. You saying all these guys there can’t come together and win a game? Rubbish. Sack the coach and his coaching team
Gunners4ever❤
1
hmm🤐.But i found DT better than robbie and other monks .Yes Turkish is a sensible one but he is always hopeless berfore the match .Even last season when we won the facup .He was saying we will sureless loose .So from then i sarted to hate him😏🤣 .I like dt because he is silent .Other monks only talk for money and put pressure on the team .But DT is always more relaxing .And when the match ends then he fires his words🔥🔥🔥
DT is silent?? Are you serious man?🤣🤣🤣He always talks out of his arse🤣🤣When Turkish was saying we will surely lose against Chelsea, he meant it because most of our fans who were realistic didn't think we stood much of a chance. So you can't blame him for that.
Gunners4ever❤
1
agreed Turkish and Moh know what they're saying
Yeah👍
Damionclarke
0
As a arsenal fan i think we are one of the worst fans ever the only thing we good at is bring Down the club and player's.
harryozor
0
Oh, Arsenal once a virgin under Wenger (season long unbeaten run), but now just only disvirgined but now a wh**e that every club goals in and out
[Crylaugh]are u English??
zuzcemy
3
This is rubbish... how are fans expected to react when the team is playing so horribly every week
Ashikgunner123
1
hmm🤐.But i found DT better than robbie and other monks .Yes Turkish is a sensible one but he is always hopeless berfore the match .Even last season when we won the facup .He was saying we will sureless loose .So from then i sarted to hate him😏🤣 .I like dt because he is silent .Other monks only talk for money and put pressure on the team .But DT is always more relaxing .And when the match ends then he fires his words🔥🔥🔥
Surely*
Ashikgunner123
1
DT is good?😂😂😂He is the guy who said that Maitland-Niles>Azpilicueta and "Lampard did nothing special at Chelsea last season because he took Chelsea from 3rd to 4th." Turkish and Moh are the most sensible ones. The others appear on AFTV for the sole purpose of attracting views for the channel🙃
hmm🤐.But i found DT better than robbie and other monks .Yes Turkish is a sensible one but he is always hopeless berfore the match .Even last season when we won the facup .He was saying we will sureless loose .So from then i sarted to hate him😏🤣 .I like dt because he is silent .Other monks only talk for money and put pressure on the team .But DT is always more relaxing .And when the match ends then he fires his words🔥🔥🔥
nutmegprince
6
this AFTV should be given less attention... they're just group of unofficial pundits... they praise a manager and the squad when times are good and throw them under the bus when times are bad... sure it's fun to watch used to be a subscriber but their opinions are sometimes just toxic
FRBunited
1
that is just rubbish talk Jamie's facial expression said it all when Richards spoke of this claim becoz players of all teams know fans can't be happy when a team plays poorly so it can't be an AFTV thing piling pressure on the players its just AFTV has the loudest of critics among EPL fans in the last 4 years I think
yowadenor
0
I think this AFTV of a thing is worries my ,I don't like them at all
Anti786
6
Well, our old boys of Highbury, could handle any insults. Today's pusssies are a bunch of wimps. The Old Arsenal, didn't know how to sulk!
lord_henry-14
1
AFTV is anti Arsenal. They are delusional and knows nothing other than uttering gibberish.
The fvking are useless bunch of guys.We lost to Liverpool last season 3-1 in match day 3 and at that point they were emery out.They are fvking out of their mind.
Wozikmrtuz
4
rubbish players & rubbish coach
juniorjt1238
1
what should u expect if club playing like this.....is fans should pretend to be happy... lol ....don't say this to Arteta....or he will say after the next loss that..'it's because of AFTV we lost the game'......[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
and your team is ?
Vopikou
4
All aftv members act like a world class manager . Each of them know which players to buy, which to sell, what tactics to use . Dt and Troopz were saying arteta will be the best manager in the world in few years , fucking muppets always getting over hyped and talking bullshit
Shinas007
11
what should u expect if club playing like this.....is fans should pretend to be happy... lol ....don't say this to Arteta....or he will say after the next loss that..'it's because of AFTV we lost the game'......[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
SawHotz
1
AFTV is nothing but balderdash. I don't understand why people even watch those retärded hypocrites. Robbie isn't even an Arsenal fan, DT and Ty are mentally ill, Troopz was there just for the banters and the rest are just paid characters who come for meltdowns.
fuaditz
0
Arteta must play the youngsters.Smith Rowe looked good better than William, Martellini a quality player always direct, takes players on and gets goals. Pepe a busted flush. Get rid of Mustafi, Xhaka, etc.
AbelJohnJoseph
1
AFTV is a good tv show .But I don't like the way they appreciate their players when we win and disrespect when we loose .When auba was on fire they said auba my bloot clat yang .And 2 weeks ago they said auba is fcking bad .So they are sense less .They are funny but not good at what they are doing at the moment .Only DT is a good one among those monks of the AFTV .Robbie is always like energy less .And Claud is a racist we know that .And TY is over positive .Kelechi is mad (Disco dancer) .
[image]
agreed Turkish and Moh know what they're saying
AbelJohnJoseph
2
AFTV is a good tv show .But I don't like the way they appreciate their players when we win and disrespect when we loose .When auba was on fire they said auba my bloot clat yang .And 2 weeks ago they said auba is fcking bad .So they are sense less .They are funny but not good at what they are doing at the moment .Only DT is a good one among those monks of the AFTV .Robbie is always like energy less .And Claud is a racist we know that .And TY is over positive .Kelechi is mad (Disco dancer) .
[image]
they don't say auba is bad. they say auba is failing to turn up and just keep on referring to the point that he is in terrible form which, for a fact, he is in.
Gunners4ever❤
1
AFTV is a good tv show .But I don't like the way they appreciate their players when we win and disrespect when we loose .When auba was on fire they said auba my bloot clat yang .And 2 weeks ago they said auba is fcking bad .So they are sense less .They are funny but not good at what they are doing at the moment .Only DT is a good one among those monks of the AFTV .Robbie is always like energy less .And Claud is a racist we know that .And TY is over positive .Kelechi is mad (Disco dancer) .
[image]
DT is good?😂😂😂He is the guy who said that Maitland-Niles>Azpilicueta and "Lampard did nothing special at Chelsea last season because he took Chelsea from 3rd to 4th." Turkish and Moh are the most sensible ones. The others appear on AFTV for the sole purpose of attracting views for the channel🙃
ishti
6
AFTV is anti Arsenal. They are delusional and knows nothing other than uttering gibberish.
AFArsenalFan
5
Just leave Robbie to buy a new house[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Ashikgunner123
5
AFTV is a good tv show .But I don't like the way they appreciate their players when we win and disrespect when we loose .When auba was on fire they said auba my bloot clat yang .And 2 weeks ago they said auba is fcking bad .So they are sense less .They are funny but not good at what they are doing at the moment .Only DT is a good one among those monks of the AFTV .Robbie is always like energy less .And Claud is a racist we know that .And TY is over positive .Kelechi is mad (Disco dancer) .
EmeraldJ
4
Oh, Arsenal once a virgin under Wenger (season long unbeaten run), but now just only disvirgined but now a wh**e that every club goals in and out