Former Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi has advised Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta that the only way to secure the Premier League title this season is to motivate his squad and stop micromanaging his players, Soccernet.ng reports.
Only a few weeks ago, the Premier League title race appeared to be over, with Arsenal seemingly cruising toward a historic triumph. However, things have gone awry for the North Londoners recently.
While Arsenal has been under pressure for much of the campaign, tensions reached sky high just before the last international break.
The Gunners first suffered a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City in the EFL Cup final. Following the break, they were knocked out of the FA Cup quarterfinals after a 2-1 loss to Championship side Southampton. While these were cup exits, they served as a grim omen for their league form.
That warning manifested last weekend when the Gunners fell 2-1 to Bournemouth at the Emirates. It was a lackluster performance from Arsenal, who struggled to match the intensity of a Bournemouth side that entered the match as clear underdogs.
The result has blown the title race wide open. Manchester City’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Chelsea on Sunday means the reigning champions now have their destiny in their own hands.
Although City currently trails by six points, they possess a game in hand and can close the gap further by beating Arsenal when the two sides lock horns this weekend. To secure the top spot, City will also likely need to score heavily to overtake Arsenal's goal difference.
Mikel Obi’s Blueprint for Arsenal’s Success
Since the loss to Bournemouth, Arsenal has faced heavy criticism, with many fans branding them “bottlers” due to their growing reputation for faltering in high-stakes moments.
Super Eagles legend Mikel Obi, who spent the bulk of his career in the Premier League, agrees with this assessment to an extent. However, he remains convinced that Arteta’s men still have a strong chance of claiming the trophy if they adjust their approach for the final seven games of the campaign.
”Arteta has to find a way to motivate this team,” Mikel stated on the Obi One Podcast.
“For me, they look like a team that has run out of ideas. They have no clue. When you watch this Arsenal side, there’s nobody willing to take responsibility on the pitch. There’s nobody willing to be ‘that guy' who says, ‘I’m going to create the chances; I’m going to make us play well.'”
Mikel contrasted Arsenal's current rigidity with the fluidity of their title rivals. “It’s different when you watch City. They have so many players who get you off your seat—players you’d pay your hard-earned money to watch: Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva. But when I watch this Arsenal side, name me one player right now who truly excites you. Nobody. Absolutely zero.”
He specifically highlighted how the tactical setup might be hindering individual stars like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard.
”Bukayo is that guy, but the way Mikel has structured this team has taken so much away from the creative players. We know what Ødegaard and Saka can do, but none of them are doing it right now.
“They are missing something. I think Arteta has coached the flair out of them. When they go on the pitch now, they don't know how to express their quality because they feel the manager isn't letting them. It’s very static, boring, and even pathetic to watch. Motivation and freedom are the keys.”
With roughly six games remaining, the race for the Premier League crown promises to be enthralling. This weekend’s showdown between Manchester City and Arsenal will almost certainly determine where the trophy lands on Matchday 38.
