NEWS
Arsenal Fans Roast Mikel Obi: “You Played Anti-Football At Chelsea”, and Now You’re Calling Our Corner-Kick Tactics Illegal?
In an episode of his ObiOne podcast, former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi stirred the pot by criticizing Arsenal’s corner kick tactics, labeling them “illegal.” This bold claim has sparked outrage among Arsenal fans, who have taken to social media to express their disbelief and frustration.
The video became viral after Arsenal’s impressive performance against Manchester United, where they secured a 2-0 victory. Despite this success, he mentioned that Gunners’ manager Mikel Arteta should have mastered alternative scoring methods rather than relying heavily on set pieces. “That’s illegal… Mikel Arteta should find a different way of scoring goals,” he stated, igniting a firestorm of reactions online.
Arsenal has become synonymous with set-piece success, scoring 22 goals from dead-ball situations in the previous season alone, 16 of which were from corners. The influence of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has transformed the Gunners into a formidable force during these situations. However, Mikel’s critique raises eyebrows, especially considering his playing history.
Fans quickly pointed out the irony in Mikel’s statements. Many recalled his time under José Mourinho at Chelsea, where he thrived in a defensive setup often criticized for being overly cautious—dubbed “park the bus.” This tactic was notably effective during the Champions League semifinal against Barcelona in 2012, where Chelsea advanced despite being outplayed for large stretches of the match.
Critics argue that Mikel’s past reliance on such strategies makes his current stance on Arsenal’s success hypocritical.The Twitterverse exploded with reactions, with fans dubbing him a “hypocrite” and questioning his authority to critique others when he benefited from similar tactics. One fan quipped, “Mikel Obi calling out set-piece goals is like a fish criticizing a bird for flying!”
In the end, as an Arsenal fan I don’t agree with Mikel Obi, one thing is clear: football is as much about strategy as it is about passion. It doesn’t matter how you win, what matters is that you win.
