John Obi Mikel Refuses to Congratulate Arsenal After Premier League Title Win, Citing Chelsea Loyalty

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has made clear he will not be offering congratulations to Arsenal following their Premier League title triumph — but he has stopped short of dismissing the achievement entirely.

Arsenal were confirmed as Premier League champions on Tuesday night after Manchester City were held to a draw by Bournemouth, ending the Gunners’ 22-year wait for England’s top-flight title. The trophy will be presented to Mikel Arteta‘s side when they face Crystal Palace on the final day of the season.

Mikel, a known Chelsea supporter and former player at Stamford Bridge, revealed on his podcast that his phone was flooded with messages from Arsenal fans following the confirmation. “I woke up to my phone blowing up, the messages were unbelievable, from Arsenal fans,” he said. “But why will I congratulate Arsenal for winning the Premier League, I, a Chelsea fan, no way would we congratulate Arsenal for winning the Premier League.”

Despite his reluctance, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Nigeria offered measured recognition of what Arsenal had accomplished. “But I have to say it though: they won the Premier League, they deserve it, fair play,” Mikel said. “We should not be bitter losers when it comes to sports. If someone has beaten you, you shake hands, and you move on.”

Mikel has been a vocal critic of Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta in the past, a stance he has consistently attributed to his deep ties to Chelsea — both as a former player and a lifelong supporter. The Nigerian midfielder spent a decade at Stamford Bridge between 2006 and 2017, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, the Champions League, and the Europa League during his time at the club.

Arsenal’s title is their first since the 2003–04 season, when Arsène Wenger’s “Invincibles” side went the entire campaign unbeaten. The club finished as Premier League runners-up in both the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons before finally ending the wait under Arteta, the Spanish manager who took charge in December 2019.

Mikel’s comments reflect a broader football culture dynamic in Nigeria, where Arsenal have historically commanded a substantial fanbase. The reaction to the title win drew widespread responses from Nigerian public figures, with several celebrities among those who expressed jubilation online following the confirmation.

With the Premier League trophy presentation scheduled for Arsenal’s home finale against Crystal Palace, attention will now turn to whether Arteta’s side can close out the campaign with a victory and what squad reinforcements the club may pursue ahead of next season, when they will also compete in the UEFA Champions League.