John Obi Mikel has refused to recognise Arsenal as Premier League champions, claiming the club’s success is built on tactics he considers illegitimate. The former Nigeria international sparked controversy by insisting he would not acknowledge the Gunners’ title victory, describing their methods as unfair to the sport.
Speaking during an interview on talkSPORT, the former Chelsea player specifically targeted Arsenal’s reliance on corner kicks, which he labelled "ridiculous" for a squad that has invested nearly £1 billion. Mikel argued that the team’s approach involves illegally impeding goalkeepers and holding opponents during set-pieces, singling out defenders Ben White and William Saliba for their roles in these tactics.
Mikel expressed disappointment that Mikel Arteta’s expensive squad lacks creativity in open play, depending instead on dead-ball situations to win matches. His comments have ignited debate among fans and pundits regarding the legitimacy of modern set-piece strategies in English football.