Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi has expressed doubts about Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s ability to lead the club to an English Premier League or UEFA Champions League title, despite the progress he has made in rebuilding the team.

Obi shared his opinion on the latest edition of the Obi One podcast, stating that while Arteta has significantly improved Arsenal, he does not believe the Spanish coach is the right man to deliver major silverware.

According to Obi, Arsenal—who have not won a Premier League title in 23 years—need more than just competitiveness to reclaim their place among Europe’s elite.

"Has he done well for Arsenal? Yes. Has he improved the team? Absolutely. There’s no doubt about it. Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal from where they were before he took over. He has massively improved the squad, the playing style, and the way fans expect Arsenal to perform. However, is he the manager to take Arsenal to the next level—winning the Premier League or the Champions League? I don’t see that," Obi said.

Obi further criticized the club’s mentality, arguing that merely competing is not enough and that Arsenal should aim for outright success.

"It’s not just about competing. People keep saying Arsenal need to compete, but no—Arsenal should be talking about winning the league, not just competing for it. When was the last time they won the Premier League? The Invincibles season in 2004. That’s 20 years ago—21, 22 years now. Arsenal need to stop talking about competing and start winning."

Despite his concerns about Arteta’s ability to deliver major trophies, Obi acknowledged the manager’s impact and the club’s improvements under his leadership.

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