Jon Obi Mikel has launched a scathing attack on Arsenal, claiming the Premier League leaders are "trying to cheat their way" to a first title in decades. The Nigerian, who won two league crowns at Chelsea, branded the Gunners' reliance on physical set-pieces as "illegal" and "ugly" to watch, despite Mikel Arteta's side currently sitting top of the table.
Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration after Arsenal were beaten at their own game during a 1-1 Champions League draw with Bayer Leverkusen. The manager lamented his team's lack of urgency and attention as they conceded from a set-piece, a tactic the Gunners usually dominate. However, a late Kai Havertz penalty ensured the last-16 tie remains finely balanced ahead of the return leg.
Arsenal FC does not play fast or particularly attractive football – yet still wins games at a high rate. The controversy surrounding the appropriateness of the playing style under manager Mikel Arteta, which has been dubbed "terror ball", has reached a new dimension.
Arsenal have received a significant triple fitness boost ahead of their Champions League round-of-16 first-leg encounter against Bayer Leverkusen. Key defensive and attacking figures were spotted during the club's final training session before they departed for Germany. While Mikel Arteta still faces some notable absences, the return of this influential trio strengthens the Gunners' hand for a crucial European away leg.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has jumped to the defence of Premier League leaders Arsenal, labelling the growing waves of criticism directed at Mikel Arteta’s side as "very unfair." Despite the Gunners sitting seven points clear at the summit following their 1-0 win over Brighton, rival managers and pundits have taken aim at their functional style of play and heavy reliance on set-pieces.
Arsenal will be “annoyed” at failing to win the Champions League, GOAL has been told, but that does not mean that the Gunners will “smash up” Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of this season’s competition. Former ‘Invincibles’ squad member Jeremie Aliadiere has warned Mikel Arteta’s side against complacency after being handed a supposedly favourable European draw in 2026.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made a startling admission regarding his tactical preparation after his side narrowly avoided an FA Cup upset against Mansfield Town. The Premier League leaders were forced to dig deep to secure a 2-1 victory over the League One outfit, but the Spaniard revealed after the final whistle that his experimental starting XI was barely tested on the training ground before the trip to Field Mill.
Mikel Arteta could not hide his pride after watching his Arsenal side navigate a tricky FA Cup fifth-round encounter against Mansfield Town. While the Gunners required a late intervention from substitute Eberechi Eze to secure their passage, the headlines belonged to 16-year-old starlet Max Dowman, who returned from an ankle injury to deliver a man-of-the-match performance at Field Hill.
Mikel Arteta is looking to reinforce his engine room as Arsenal reportedly intensify their pursuit of Newcastle star Sandro Tonali. The presence of the player's representative at a recent Premier League fixture has sparked fresh speculation over a summer transfer following surprise links in January.
Arsenal face a high-stakes summer transfer window as financial pressures mount at the Emirates following last year's spending splurge. Despite their impressive Premier League form, the Gunners may be forced into a shock sale of at least one key star and academy graduates to balance the books.
Arsenal consolidated their position at the top of the Premier League with a gritty 1-0 victory over Brighton on Wednesday, but the fallout from the Amex Stadium has been dominated by a staggering statistic. While Bukayo Saka’s strike secured the points, the Gunners are facing accusations of taking gamesmanship to a whole new level after data revealed they spent over half an hour simply waiting to restart the game.
Arsenal have taken a massive step toward their first Premier League title in over two decades, but their ascent is drawing heavy criticism for its lack of aesthetic appeal. Following a gritty 1-0 victory over Brighton on Wednesday, former Newcastle and West Ham manager Alan Pardew delivered a scathing assessment of Mikel Arteta’s side.
Mikel Arteta was caught in a tense exchange after being confronted with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler’s scathing assessment of Arsenal’s tactical conduct. The Gunners' narrow victory at the Amex Stadium was overshadowed by accusations of cynical gamesmanship and "making their own rules," leaving the Premier League leaders facing a barrage of criticism despite moving seven points clear at the summit.
Tensions between Brighton and Arsenal exploded after the Gunners secured a gritty victory at the Amex Stadium to bolster their title charge on Wednesday evening. Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler launched a scathing attack on Mikel Arteta's side, accusing them of cynically manipulating the rules and using extreme time-wasting tactics in a match where he suggested only the hosts genuinely attempted to play football.
Arsenal are being advised to keep faith with Mikel Arteta regardless of what happens in their 2025-26 trophy bids, with former Invincibles squad member Jeremie Aliadiere telling GOAL why nobody could do a better job at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners are back in the hunt for the Premier League, as part of a quadruple quest, with their manager determined to turn potential into something more tangible.
Arsenal may have restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea, but the performance has raised serious alarm bells. Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has warned Mikel Arteta that he cannot rely on £64 million ($85m) striker Viktor Gyokeres as the title race reaches its boiling point. Despite a recent upturn in form, the Sweden international's consistency remains a major point of contention.
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