Mikel Obi Accuses Arsenal Of ‘Cheating’ Their Way Towards Premier League Title

Former Super Eagles midfielder John Obi Mikel has sparked debate after accusing Arsenal F.C. of “cheating” their way towards the Premier League title.

Arsenal currently sit seven points clear of Manchester City F.C. at the top of the table, although the North London side have played one match more. Despite their commanding position, Mikel Obi insists he would struggle to recognise them as worthy champions.

The former Chelsea midfielder criticised the team’s heavy reliance on set-pieces, particularly corners, which he believes have become the main route to victory under manager Mikel Arteta.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Mikel Obi said, “They’ve cheated their way to winning the Premier League.

“So I wouldn’t recognise them as winners, because for me it’s illegal the way they’re winning games.

“It’s illegal unless the Premier League right now from this weekend stamp that out. We don’t want to see that in the game.”

Mikel also questioned Arsenal’s style of play, arguing that the club’s creative players are no longer expressing themselves freely on the pitch.

“When I watch Arsenal play right now, they depend solely, solely on corner kicks,” Mikel complained bitterly. “You have spent almost a billion, Mikel Arteta, almost a billion dollars, and you’re telling me the only way you can win games is through corner kicks? It’s ridiculous.

“They’re winning ugly. The only reason why Arsenal fans are not complaining about the style of football that they’re playing is that they’re top of the league.

“If they’re not top of the league, they will complain that they’re not enjoying the type of football that they’re playing. The creativity that they have, the potential that they have, it’s all gone out of the window.

“We don’t see them anymore. The likes of Saka, the likes of Martinelli, the likes of Eze, Odegaard. We don’t see that anymore because they depend solely on corner kicks.”

Arsenal’s strong run this season has placed them firmly in the driving seat for the title, but Mikel maintains he would not acknowledge them as champions if their current approach delivers the trophy.

“Not if they’re going to win the way they’re playing right now. No, I wouldn’t, because for me it’s a cheat; they’ve cheated their way to winning the Premier League. So I wouldn’t recognise them as winners because, for me, it’s illegal the way they’re winning games,” he said.

“It’s illegal unless the Premier League right now, from this weekend stamp that out. We don’t want to see that in the game.”