John Obi Mikel urges Arsenal to let go of Arteta if he fails to win Premier League

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has urged Arsenal to part ways with Mikel Arteta if the Spaniard fails to win the Premier League title.

Arteta took charge of Arsenal in December 2019 and has since overseen significant improvements in the team’s performance. Under his leadership, Arsenal have secured regular qualification for the UEFA Champions League and have finished as runners-up in consecutive Premier League seasons, behind Manchester City.

However, despite only winning one FA Cup and a Community Shield, Arteta has yet to clinch the Premier League, even with Manchester City’s recent dip in form. Mikel criticized Arsenal for not capitalizing on Pep Guardiola’s team’s struggles this season, as Arsenal currently trail Liverpool by six points at the top of the table.

The pressure on Arteta intensified after Arsenal lost the first leg of the Carabao Cup 2-0 to Newcastle, further adding to the expectation of winning silverware.

Speaking on his ObiOne Podcast, Mikel suggested that a lack of titles would ultimately cost Arteta his job, even though Arsenal’s on-field performances have improved under his guidance.

“It’s Liverpool’s to lose. I don’t think Arsenal will win it. If Mikel Arteta doesn’t win the league next season, I think he should leave the football club,” Mikel said.

“It’s been almost seven seasons, and you’ve spent close to 800 million. I don’t think they are going to win the league this season. If he doesn’t win the league next season, I think he should walk because City are going to be back.”

Mikel also pointed to the growing competition in the league: “Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle are going to get stronger. For me, the only time that Manchester City were struggling, for me, this is when Arsenal should have been there.”

He continued, “I keep saying it yearly, they will bottle it. That’s Arsenal, it’s a known fact. Arsenal can’t find a way to win the league. It is a mental side of things.

“I think mentally, obviously, because they have been fighting with City for the past three years, I think that has drained them because they have not been able to get over the line. They can’t sustain that pressure; we can see that this year.”