MICAH RICHARDS believes YouTube channel AFTV could be affecting Arsenal players’ confidence with the ‘negativity’ on the channel.
Richards was a pundit on Sky Sports and watched as his former team Manchester City thumped the Gunners 4-1 in the Carabao Cup.
Micah Richards thinks AFTV could be affecting Arsenal players’ confidence Credit: Getty Images – Getty
AFTV creator Robbie Lyle, right, launched the channel in 2012 Credit: YouTube / AFTV
It adds to more misery for Mikel Arteta’s men, who sit 15th in the league having lost EIGHT TIMES already.
And Richards reckons AFTV – which gives fans a platform to speak their mind – could be working against Arsenal.
He said: “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 creator Robbie Lyle launched the channel in 2012 to give supporters a voice.
But his guests have been accused of creating a toxic environment between fans, and even Hector Bellerin slated the channel during his Oxford Union address in 2018
That is despite club captain Piere-Emerick Aubameyang in the past endorsing AFTV.
Some Arsenal fans caused angry scenes after a 0-0 draw at Everton last December, chanting for AFTV members to ‘get our of our club’.
But loyal Gunners fan Piers Morgan leapt to the defence of Lyle & Co – as he instead pointed the finger at the club itself.
He tweeted: “Hate to see this. Few nicer people or more loyal @Arsenal fans than Robbie Lyle.
“The reason @AFTVMedia has been so negative in recent years is that we’ve been utter cr*p.
“Don’t blame the messengers – blame the owners, managers & players.”
Scottish legend Ally Mccoist also backed AFTV on talkSPORT the same month, as he said: “The fact of the matter is, anything that gives the fans a say you think has got to be a good thing.
“It is effectively all about opinions.”
Robbie Lyle from Arsenal TV says it’s no surprise that Unai Emery has been sacked
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
