Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has declared Arsenal favourites to clinch both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles this season, insisting manager Mikel Arteta commands the finest squad in European football.
The ex-Chelsea midfielder expressed confidence that the Gunners possess unmatched squad depth that positions them as overwhelming favourites for silverware, according to metro.co.uk.
Arsenal currently enjoy a comfortable four-point cushion at the Premier League summit whilst holding a seven-point advantage over defending champions Liverpool. The North London club has also begun their Champions League campaign in formidable fashion, registering victories against Athletic Bilbao, Olympiacos and Atletico Madrid without conceding a single goal.
Mikel, who secured two league titles during his spell at Stamford Bridge, believes Arsenal’s championship credentials are undeniable given the resources at Arteta’s disposal.
“This season I think it’s Arsenal’s to lose,” Mikel stated on The Obi One Podcast. “If Arsenal and Mikel Arteta don’t win the Premier League… the squad, the depth they have, is frightening.”
The 38-year-old emphasised the quality running through Arsenal’s entire roster, not merely the starting eleven.
“They have the best squad not just in the Premier League, not just in England, in world football right now,” he said. “I bet you there’s no better squad depth than Arsenal’s.”
Mikel highlighted how Arsenal’s bench strength has proved decisive in crucial matches, citing players such as Gabriel Martinelli, Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino as game-changers who have delivered vital contributions after coming on as substitutes.
“Sometimes it’s not the starting eleven that wins you games, it’s who you bring off the bench,” he explained. “We’ve seen Arsenal. Martinelli is coming off the bench to win them games; Eze, Merino, and Havertz are injured. It’s frightening.”
The former Nigeria international suggested Arsenal’s rivals lack the necessary qualities to mount sustained title challenges this term.
“Mikel Arteta knows that this is Arsenal’s title to lose,” Mikel added. “Deep down, they know it’s the truth. This is the season for Arsenal to win the Premier League. City are not there, Liverpool are struggling, we [Chelsea] don’t have the experience to go and win the Premier League.”
Extending his prediction beyond domestic competition, Mikel backed Arsenal to capture European football’s most prestigious club trophy.
“We’re talking about the Premier League, I think they can go on to win the Champions League, this is how good Arsenal are,” he said. “I can see a little bit of a mental shift, I think right now they believe, there’s something there, I can feel it now, finally Arsenal are ready.”
Despite criticism surrounding Arsenal’s reliance on set-pieces—having scored just five of their 16 Premier League goals from open play this season—Mikel defended Arteta’s approach.
“It doesn’t matter how you score, it doesn’t matter how you win games, it doesn’t matter how you win the title, just win,” he concluded.
