Oliseh reveals Arteta’s actions that gave Arsenal Premier League trophy

By Editor

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has explained what he says are the three major decisions that helped Mikel Arteta and Arsenal secure the Premier League title after 22 years of waiting.

Last week’s success marks Arsenal’s first league title since their historic unbeaten “Invincibles” campaign in 2004.

Arteta joined the Gunners in late 2019, inheriting an underperforming, sub-standard squad. He embarked on a massive squad overhaul with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli as the only surviving players from Arteta’s first year in charge.

​The Spaniard has continued to receive a lot of praise for his historic feat, and Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, has joined the long list of praise givers.

​Oliseh, who spoke on SuperSport, analyzed Arteta’s influence on Arsenal and the actions that earned them Premier League success.

​The Nigerian noted that Arteta’s structural organization, his choice of leadership, and his ruthlessness in phasing out underperforming stars were the cornerstones of his success.

Oliseh said, “It is pleasing for me to say that it was obvious they were going to be champions as early as October.

“Most people overlook a fundamental truth in football: you are not just as good as your attacking force; you are only as good as your defense.

“At Arsenal, the manager might not be someone I would describe as relying purely on flair or individual creativity to win games. But what he possesses is an elite organization. When he arrived, he didn’t have a massive managerial reputation – he came in as an assistant coach, and many people thought he might be pushed around or undermined by player power.

“Instead, he showed incredible ruthlessness. He got rid of big names like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and handed the captaincy to Martin Odegaard. Coming from a part of the world [Norway] known for a disciplined, reserved culture, Ødegaard is a player who never holds back his effort. When your captain is completely aligned with you, saying ‘Yes, coach,’ it allows you to mold the rest of the team exactly how you want.”

The season is over for most teams, but not so for Arsenal. ​The Gunners will look to finish the campaign on a high this weekend when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday.