Coach Sunday Oliseh at SSV SV Straelen: Photo by ImagoxMoritz Müller
Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has revealed the three pivotal decisions that fueled Mikel Arteta’s Premier League success with Arsenal, Soccernet.ng reports.
Arsenal's status as the 2025/26 Premier League champions was sealed last week following Manchester City's 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth. The triumph marks the Gunners' first league title since their historic unbeaten Invincibles campaign in 2004.
For Arsenal, it has been a long and arduous journey to the top. After cycling through multiple managers, the club's board decided to play the long game, appointing Arteta in late 2019.
Mikel Arteta coach of Arsenal (Photo by Imago)
At the time, the Spaniard took charge of an underperforming, sub-standard squad, and that prompted a steady but massive squad overhaul. In fact, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are the only surviving players from Arteta's first year in charge.
The Spanish tactician has received a lot of plaudits for his historic feat, and Super Eagles legend Oliseh has joined the chorus of praise.
How Arteta Led Arsenal to the Premier League Title — Oliseh
Oliseh (Photo credit: Imago)
Speaking on SuperSport, Oliseh—a brilliant tactical mind himself—analyzed Arteta's influence on Arsenal and the actions that earned them Premier League glory.
Oliseh noted that Arteta's structural organization, his choice of leadership, and his ruthlessness in phasing out underperforming stars were the cornerstones of his success.
”It is pleasing for me to say that it was obvious they were going to be champions as early as October,” Oliseh said. “Most people overlook a fundamental truth in football: you are not just as good as your attacking force; you are only as good as your defense.”
”At Arsenal, the manager might not be someone I would describe as relying purely on flair or individual creativity to win games. But what he possesses is elite organization. When he arrived, he didn't have a massive managerial reputation—he came in as an assistant coach, and many people thought he might be pushed around or undermined by player power.”
”Instead, he showed incredible ruthlessness. He got rid of big names like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and handed the captaincy to Martin Ødegaard. Coming from a part of the world [Norway] known for a disciplined, reserved culture, Ødegaard is a player who never holds back his effort. When your captain is completely aligned with you, saying ‘Yes, coach,' it allows you to mold the rest of the team exactly how you want.”
Arsenal players (Photo credit: Imago)
Following their domestic triumph, Arsenal will look to finish the campaign on a high this weekend when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. A victory in Europe would permanently cement Arteta and this generation of players into Arsenal folklore.
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
