Former Super Eagles captain and ex-national team coach, Sunday Oliseh, has disclosed that he believed Arsenal would emerge Premier League champions as far back as October due to the club’s defensive solidity and tactical discipline.
Recall that Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the English top-flight title after clinching the league crown, triggering celebrations among fans around the globe.
The North London side concluded the campaign at the summit of the table with 85 points, finishing seven points ahead of second-placed Manchester City.
Speaking during SuperSport’s Monday Night Football programme, Oliseh said Arsenal’s defensive structure under manager Mikel Arteta convinced him early in the season that the club was destined to become champions.
“It’s pleasant for me to say it was obvious they were going to be champions as of October,” Oliseh said on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football.
“Because you see one thing most people don’t try to take note of in football is that, you’re not as good as your attacking force, you are as good as your defense.”
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder also commended Arteta’s managerial approach, noting that the Spaniard succeeded in building a disciplined and united squad despite doubts surrounding his appointment in the early stages of his tenure.
“At Arsenal, the manager is not someone that I would say he has got a lot of creativity, when it comes to being creative or putting the flair on how to finish up,” he added.
“But one thing he has is the organization. One thing he did with this team is that you know I don’t have a big name, I came in as an assistant coach, and most people think they just mafia me as a manager.”
Oliseh further praised Arteta’s bold restructuring of the squad, particularly the exit of former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the decision to hand the captain’s armband to Martin Ødegaard.
According to the former Ajax midfielder, those decisions allowed Arteta to fully establish his authority in the dressing room and shape the culture within the squad.
“But he got rid of the players like Aubameyang had to go and he gave the Captain ship to a player, look where he is from,” Oliseh explained.
“From the part of the world where he is from, there are players that are never withdrawn. And when he is your captain and he is saying yes coach, you can now be able to mold the team to the way you want.”
Oliseh also applauded Arsenal’s hierarchy for maintaining faith in Arteta despite the club’s near misses in previous seasons, insisting the patience shown by management played a major role in the team’s eventual success.
“Let’s not forget the management had patience to give him all these years to be taking second,” he noted. “They have done great, many people don’t like the man but he doesn’t care and he shouldn’t care, that’s my opinion.”
