Home
News

Mikel Obi to Arsenal: How to Beat Man City in 2026 Title Race

Tolu Shotade

Editor

Last updated: Mon 13 Apr 2026 19:47

Tolu Shotade 13 Apr 2026

Share this article

Mikel criticizes Arsenal's reliance on set pieces, branding tactics borderline 'illegal'.
Believes Arsenal's rigid play stifles creativity, impacting talents like Ødegaard and Saka.
Suggests Arsenal must abandon 'terror football' and embrace open play for success against Man City.

Mikel Obi

As the Premier League title race reaches its boiling point, Chelsea legend and former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has delivered a brutal reality check to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

With a potential title-deciding trip to the Etihad Stadium looming, Mikel has warned that the Gunners' current tactical approach will not be enough to overcome Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Speaking on his popular The Obi One Podcast, Mikel did not hold back, labeling Arsenal’s recent style of play as borderline "illegal" while outlining exactly what he believes is holding them back from ultimate glory.

The Set-Piece Trap and Mikel’s Primary Criticism

Mikel’s biggest grievance with the current Arsenal side is their heavy reliance on dead-ball situations. The Gunners have been statistically dominant from corners this season, but Mikel believes this has come at the cost of their tactical identity.

Following recent performances where the team struggled to create meaningful chances from open play, Mikel argued that Manchester City’s tactical sophistication will easily neutralize a one-dimensional approach focused on set-piece spamming. He questioned how a squad that has seen nearly a billion pounds in investment under Mikel Arteta can be reduced to relying so heavily on corner kicks to win games.

The Question of Illegal Tactics and Stifled Creativity

In a comment that sparked significant debate among football fans, Mikel branded the Gunners' physical behavior in the box as a "cheap code" that will eventually be figured out by top-tier referees and elite opponents.

He noted that the constant grappling and impeding of goalkeepers has become a hallmark of their system but argues it is "ugly to watch" and unsustainable against a team like City. More importantly, Mikel believes Arteta is inadvertently stifling his world-class talents like Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka.

He suggests that the rigid system has forced creative players into a robotic style of play, sacrificing the free-flowing football needed to break down a defense as disciplined as Manchester City’s.

Mikel’s Blueprint for Victory at the Etihad

If Arsenal want to leave Manchester with three points, Mikel suggests they must move away from what he terms "terror football" and allow their creative players to take genuine risks in the final third.

He insists that the Gunners must prove they can score from open play without the safety net of a corner or a long throw-in. Matching City’s intensity without resorting to grappling tactics will be the ultimate test of their maturity.

According to the former Nigerian international, only by releasing the tactical handbrake can Arsenal truly hope to bypass Pep Guardiola's side and claim the Premier League crown.