AFCON 2025
Chelsea legend Mikel John Obi said he would not recognise Arsenal as proper champions if they emerge as champions of the Premier League at the end of the season.
The two-time Premier League winner believes Mikel Arteta’s side are “cheating” their way en route to winning the league with the way they have been executing their corner-kicks.
Mikel Obi said Arsenal are no longer utilising their creative outlets to win games with players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, and the likes to win games.
The former Chelsea midfielder also added that the reason why Arsenal fans are not complaining is that they are currently at the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Obi made his thoughts known in a recent broadcast as a pundit.
“When I watch Arsenal play right now, they rely solely on corner-kicks. You have spent almost a billion and you are telling me the only way you can win games is through corner-kicks? It’s ridiculous! The only reason why Arsenal fans are not complaining about the style of football is because they are on top of the league.”
“If you look at their corner-kicks, they’re holding players…It’s illegal, the creativity, potentials that thy have have gone out of the window, we don’t see that anymore because they rely solely on corner-kicks.”
When asked if he would recognise Arsenal as Premier League champions if they win the league, Mikel Obi said:
“Not if they go on to win it the way they are playing right now, no I won’t”
Arsenal has scored 16 goals from corner kicks in the Premier League during the 2025-26 season.
The tally equals the joint-most by any side in a single Premier League campaign, matching records set by Oldham Athletic in 1992-93, West Bromwich Albion in 2016-17, and Arsenal themselves in the 2023-24 season.
With nine league games remaining, the Gunners are on track to potentially set a new outright record.
Arsenal currently top the Premier League table, having amassed 67 points after 30 matches.
