John Obi Mikel blasts Arsenal: 'Get over finishing second'

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has criticised Mikel Arteta for 'always finishing second' with Arsenal.

The Gunners were fancied by many to finally get over the line and win the Premier League after pushing Manchester City close in the two previous seasons, and with midfield lynchpin Rodri suffering a season-ending injury early in the campaign, leading to a sharp dip in form, the door looked to be wide open.

But Arsenal struggled to capitalise, winning just five of their first 11 games, and two of them coming against sides who'd go on to be relegated with the title race as good as done by Christmas.

When asked to rank the four sides who qualified for the UEFA Champions League - excluding champions Liverpool - in terms of who had the best seasons, Mikel ranked Arsenal bottom, below Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham.

"Arsenal fans should get over finishing second. For me, a club like Arsenal who haven't won the league for, what, 20-something years? It's a huge football club, but you can't keep coming second.

"Arsenal Football Club shouldn't be finishing second. Mikel Arteta has been there for five years, he's built his club but they always finish second. He's going to spend again this summer, he's going to go on a shopping spree and, what, come second again next season? It's too much.

"I don't think Arsenal fans should be happy finishing second. This is the season when they should be there. City were struggling, everyone else was struggling, they've missed out again. Liverpool have come and snatched it."

While Arteta still has many backers having lifted Arsenal not just back into the UEFA Champions League, but to a position where they can contend for the competition, the Spaniard has a growing number of critics.

While Arsenal looked miles away from challenging for the Premier League or UEFA Champions League when he took over, the Gunners are back in the conversation for those competitions, but the longer the trophy drought goes on - Arsenal haven't won a trophy since Arteta's first season when he guided them to the FA Cup - the more questions arise over his ability to take the Gunners to the next level.

Only Manchester United and Chelsea have a higher net spend than Arsenal since Arteta took over at the Emirates, and time appears to be running out for the 43-year-old to deliver silverware to North London.

Liam Williams

• Arsenal F.C.
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