Oliseh hails Arteta after Arsenal title win

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has lauded Mikel Arteta's managerial prowess following Arsenal's triumphant Premier League victory, ending a 20-year wait for the title. Oliseh, speaking on his Global Football Insights podcast, lauded Arteta's evolution as a coach, characterizing him as a leader who combines sharp tactical acumen with an unyielding competitive spirit.

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Mikel Arteta is the sovereign of the new era. He is the bridge. He has some of the brains of Pep and the street fighter heart of a captain.

Oliseh drew parallels between Arteta and his former mentor, Pep Guardiola, noting that Arteta possesses both the strategic brilliance of Guardiola and the resilience required to navigate the high-pressure environment of elite football management. He specifically pointed to Arteta's early decisions, such as the departure of Mesut Özil, as crucial steps in reshaping Arsenal's culture and instilling a collective identity over individual stardom.

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Like Pep, Arteta began with a cultural cleaning. He removed Mesut Ozil, the club’s most talented creator at that time. Although the contract situation advancing age and injury concern also factored in that decision.

The former Nigerian captain further credited Arteta's success to his insistence on tactical discipline, intense pressing, and positional versatility within the squad. Oliseh highlighted the development of players like Declan Rice and Kai Havertz as examples of Arteta's preference for adaptable footballers capable of contributing across various phases of play, emphasizing their ability to perform demanding roles at both ends of the pitch.

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Arteta’s emphasis on collective pressing and discipline proved pivotal in reshaping the club culture.

Additionally, Oliseh commended Arsenal's significant improvement from set-piece situations, noting Arteta's investment in specialist coaching to maximize efficiency from corners and free kicks. He likened Arteta's approach to dead-ball situations to meticulously planned plays in American football, underscoring the attention to detail that has characterized Arsenal's championship-winning season.

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Players who can win a header in their own box and score a tap-in at the other end within ten seconds. He introduced the set-pieces revolution.