'He has Pep's brain and a fighter's heart' - Oliseh praises PL-winning manager Arteta

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has praised Premier League-winning manager Mikel Arteta, describing the Spanish tactician as a manager who possesses 'some of Pep Guardiola's brain' alongside the mentality of a fighter.

Arteta guided Arsenal to the Premier League title after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The title success marks Arsenal's first league crown in more than 20 years and also represents Arteta's first major trophy in the last five years.

Speaking on Global Football Insights With Oliseh , the retired Nigeria international lauded Arteta's tactical evolution, leadership style, and ability to rebuild Arsenal into a title-winning side.

"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 said.

The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder highlighted Arteta's bold decisions during the early stages of his rebuild, particularly the departure of former Arsenal playmaker Mesut Özil.

"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," he added.

Oliseh also credited Arteta's emphasis on tactical discipline, collective pressing, and positional flexibility as major components behind Arsenal's transformation.

"Arteta's emphasis on collective pressing and discipline proved pivotal in reshaping the club culture," Oliseh stated.

"A look at the number hybrid will explain this better. Look at Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, Arteta doesn't want specialists, he wants heat maps and racers.

"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."

The Nigerian football legend further praised Arteta's innovation in set-piece situations, noting that Arsenal's attention to dead-ball scenarios became one of their strongest weapons.

"Arteta hired specialist coaches to turn corner kicks and free kicks into mathematical certainties. He treats every dead ball situation like a scripted play in American football."

Oliseh, however, admitted that Arteta's intense coaching methods previously had adverse effects on the squad during Arsenal's failed title challenge in the 2023 season.

"During the 2023 run, his 24/7 coaching caused the team to red line. He was so intense that the players started to play with fear instead of flow, and that's one of the reasons they lost the title."

According to Oliseh, Arteta eventually refined his tactical philosophy by balancing aggression with control, a development he believes played a decisive role in Arsenal's eventual title success.

"But looking at the title contender revolution of 2024/2025, Arteta refined his high-pressing 4-3-3 into a more balanced system that neutralized elite counter attacks," he said.

"Blending Guardiola's operational position with his street fighter's intensity to finally challenge for major silverware and prove the disciple has forged his major blueprint."

Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League standings with 82 points, four ahead of Manchester City in second place as the Gunners celebrate a historic league triumph under Arteta.