Former Super Eagles’ captain, John Mikel Obi has come out with a sweeping verdict that his namesake, Mikel Arteta, must quit as Arsenal’s manager if The Gunners fail to win the English Premier League (EPL) title at the end of next season.
While ruling Arsenal out of title contention in the ongoing season, Sports247 can report that Mikel believes The Gunners’ top shots have been patient enough with Arteta for almost seven years, but opined that next season would be the climax of an evolution under their former captain-turned-gaffer.
READ ALSO: GTI Honored With Newstap/SWAN Five Star Sports Award For Transforming Nigerian Football
The former Chelsea star repeatedly stressed, “If Mikel Arteta does not win the league next season, I think he should leave the football club. If he doesn’t win the league next season, that’s going to be seven seasons … seven … and you’ve spent close to £800 million … maybe £700 to £800m.
“If he doesn’t win the league next season, since I don’t think he can win it this season any longer, I think he should just walk.”
However, Mikel, who recalled years of terse battles between his former club and their London rivals, warned that even next year could still turn out to be an uphill task for Arteta, as many teams that are currently struggling for form are bound to storm back at the end of this campaign.
“City are going to be back! We are going to get stronger, Liverpool are going to get stronger, United are going to get stronger, Newcastle are going to get stronger.
So, for me, the only time that Manchester City are struggling, like this season, is when Arsenal should have been there. I keep saying it year in year out, they bottle it. They will bottle it. That’s Arsenal’s style, and it’s a known fact,” Mikel Obi submitted.
