John Obi Mikel has backed Arsenal to achieve a historic double this season, insisting that Mikel Arteta’s men have the talent, depth, and mentality to win both the Premier League and the Champions League.
The Gunners have stormed to the top of the Premier League table, sitting four points clear and already seven ahead of defending champions Liverpool. In Europe, they’ve been equally dominant, winning all three of their opening Champions League fixtures against Athletic Bilbao, Olympiacos, and Atletico Madrid without conceding a goal.
Speaking onThe Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder, who lifted two Premier League titles during his time at Stamford Bridge, said Arsenal are the clear favourites for the title and perhaps even the best team in the world right now.
“This season I think it’s Arsenal’s to lose,” Obi Mikel said. “If Arsenal and Mikel Arteta don’t win the Premier League… the squad, the depth they have, is frightening.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta names two players who really impressed him against Brighton
“They have the best squad not just in the Premier League, not just in England, in world football right now. I bet you there’s no better squad depth than Arsenal’s.”
🫣 ‘IT’S ARSENAL’S TO LOSE’ 🔴
Even @mikel_john_obi is coming round to the thinking that this WILL be Arsenal’s year… 👀
📈 4pts clear in the table
⚽️ Just 3 goals conceded
🔐 6 clean sheets in nine games pic.twitter.com/AWQ2TlEndh
— The Obi One Podcast (@obionepodcast) October 27, 2025
He went on to highlight the strength of Arsenal’s bench as a key factor behind their success so far, noting that Arteta can call upon top-quality players even outside his starting eleven.
“Not just talking about the eleven who start, what you have on the bench who come in and win games – Arsenal, there’s no better,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not the starting eleven that wins you games, it’s who you bring off the bench. We’ve seen Arsenal… Martinelli coming off the bench to win them games, Eze, Merino, Havertz is injured. It’s frightening and Mikel Arteta knows that.”
According to Obi Mikel, everything is falling into place for Arsenal to finally end their two-decade wait for the Premier League trophy.
“This is Arsenal’s title to lose. Deep down they know it’s the truth. This is the season for Arsenal to win the Premier League,” he continued. “City are not there, Liverpool are struggling, we [Chelsea] don’t have the experience to go and win the Premier League.
Arsenal in October 2025 has been written in history as the perfect month.
6 games. 6 wins. 0 defeats. 12 goals scored. 0 goals conceded. 6 clean sheets.
Mikel Arteta, you’ve created a monster. pic.twitter.com/fOi2JaMhDt
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) October 29, 2025
“We’re talking about the Premier League, I think they can go on to win the Champions League. This is how good Arsenal are. It’s scary, I’m telling you. The squad they have, the players they have, the way they are playing… I can see a little bit of a mental shift. I think right now they believe. There’s something there. Finally, Arsenal are ready.”
Despite Arsenal’s impressive record, the team has faced criticism over their heavy reliance on set-pieces, having scored just five of their 16 Premier League goals from open play. But Obi Mikel insists that results matter more than the manner of scoring.
“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 said. “But if you have all these creative players, you have Declan Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Gyokeres, Saka, Martinelli, Madueke… you can’t keep scoring from set-pieces. Find a way of getting those players to create chances to win games.”
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While acknowledging Arsenal’s reliance on set pieces, the Nigerian legend praised Arteta for ensuring the team keeps finding ways to win matches.
“This has been going on from last season, over-reliance on set-pieces, throw-ins, corner kicks, Gabriel flicking, Saliba flicking, that’s how Arsenal have scored their goals,” he added.
“But I’m not sitting there criticising the way they’re winning games, they’re entitled to win games whichever way they want. But if you spend more than £1 billion over six, seven years, you’ve got to find a way of winning games from open play. Fair play to them, they find a way of winning games, they’re doing what they’re doing.”
With Arteta’s side showing consistency, confidence, and character both domestically and in Europe, Obi Mikel believes Arsenal finally look ready to transform potential into silverware and perhaps dominate Europe in the process.
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