Jon Obi Mikel is in the news for suggesting Arsenal are ‘cheating’ this week but former Gunner Ray Parlour has leapt to the club’s defence.
Parlour was part of a number of Arsenal teams who all played different ways over the years and has experienced countless ‘One nil to the Arsenal’ chants in games.
Now, he has fired back at former Chelsea man Mikel for his comments.
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Ray Parlour says Jon Obi Mikel is wrong about Arsenal
Every Arsenal fan is keen for the old guard to defend the current team and it does seem we are getting some of that.
Now, it’s Ray Parlour’s turn, as he suggested Obi Mikel is effectively talking nonsense.
“I don’t know what he’s trying to get at if I’m honest. I’m a little bit confused,” Parlour admitted on TalkSPORT.
“He might not like Arsenal but it’s a situation where corners are part of the game. Set plays are part of the game. If they bring in a coach and they practice it, it’s part of the game. Look at the long throw again now, people didn’t used to do it but now that’s come back in. You might get a goal out of it and you take it so I don’t know where he’s going.
“It’s all about winning football matches. People want to see great football yes but there’s certain games you have to get over the line. I’d rather do that than say play really well and lose 4-3. I’d rather win 1-0, be solid at the back and carry on.
“At the end of the season nobody analyses every game. It doesn’t matter. You’re picking the trophy up and Arsenal haven’t won the title for over 20 years. Everyone has got their own opinions and I’m fine with that but I just don’t know where he’s going with saying it’s cheating. I just don’t go along with that.”
What Jon Obi Mikel said about Arsenal ‘cheating’
We’ve seen some utterly bizarre takes about Arsenal this season at times but honestly, this one from Jon Obi Mikel tops the lot.
He went into a very strange rant a few days ago and in doing so, seemed to lose his cool and accuse the club of cheating their way to success.
“When I watch Arsenal play they depend solely on corners,” Mikel ranted.
“You have spent almost a billion, Mikel Arteta, and you’re telling me the only way you can win games is through corner kicks? It’s ridiculous.
“The only reason Arsenal fans are not complaining about the style of football is because they’re top of the league. We don’t see the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard anymore because they depend solely on corner kicks.
“If they win playing like this, I wouldn’t recognise them as winners. For me it’s a cheat. They’ve cheated their way to winning the Premier League.
“It’s illegal the way they’re winning games — unless the Premier League stamps that out.”
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