English Premier League
Sunday Oliseh Reveals Why He Predicted Arsenal’s Premier League Triumph in October
Former Nigeria’s senior men’s national team captain and coach Sunday Oliseh has disclosed that he was convinced as early as October that Arsenal would win the Premier League title this season.
The Gunners finally ended their 22-year wait for the English top-flight crown after a dominant campaign that sparked celebrations among supporters around the world.
Speaking on Arsenal’s impressive season during SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, Oliseh said the club’s defensive solidity and tactical discipline under manager Mikel Arteta convinced him they were destined for success.
“It’s pleasant for me to say it was obvious they were going to be champions as of October,” Oliseh said.
“One thing most people don’t try to take note of in football is that you are not as good as your attacking force, you are as good as your defense.”
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder praised Arteta for building a well-organised and disciplined side despite criticism during the early stages of his managerial reign at Arsenal.
“At Arsenal, the manager is not someone I would say has a lot of creativity or flair when it comes to finishing up,” he added.
“But one thing he has is organisation. He came in as an assistant coach and many people thought he was simply handed the role, but he built something strong.”
Oliseh also commended Arteta’s bold squad decisions, including the departure of former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the decision to hand the captaincy to Martin Ødegaard.
According to the former Ajax midfielder, those choices allowed Arteta to establish authority within the dressing room and shape the squad in his own image.
“He got rid of players like Aubameyang and gave the captaincy to a player who fully bought into his philosophy,” Oliseh explained.
“When your captain believes in the coach and follows his direction, it becomes easier to mould the team the way you want.”
Oliseh further applauded Arsenal’s management for showing patience and trust in Arteta despite previous seasons ending in disappointment.
“Let’s not forget the management had patience to allow him continue even after finishing second,” he said.
“They have done great. Many people don’t like him, but he doesn’t care and he shouldn’t care.”
Arsenal finished the season at the top of the table with 85 points, seven ahead of second-placed Manchester City.
