By Milcah Tanimu
Everton legend Yakubu Aiyegbeni has provided insightful advice to his former teammate, Mikel Arteta, on how Arsenal can secure their first Premier League title in over two decades. Following Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Tottenham, which kept their title hopes alive, Yakubu, who played alongside Arteta at Everton, shared his thoughts on how Arsenal can close the gap with Liverpool, currently leading the Premier League.
Capitalizing on Liverpool’s Dip in Form
Yakubu believes this season offers an opportunity for Arsenal to challenge Liverpool, who have been dropping points. With Arsenal only four points behind and a game in hand, the Nigerian football icon emphasized that Liverpool’s current struggles present a chance for the Gunners to capitalize.
Yakubu said, “Liverpool are dropping points little by little. It’s an opportunity for Arsenal to capitalize on that.” He further highlighted that Arsenal’s defense, led by William Saliba and Gabriel, is solid, but the key issue remains their lack of a clinical striker.
Importance of a Clinical Striker
Yakubu stressed that for Arsenal to compete with Liverpool for the title, they need to bolster their attack with a proven goal scorer. “Once they get a striker, I believe they can push Liverpool all the way to the end,” he said.
Despite the challenge posed by Liverpool’s form, Yakubu believes that if Arsenal can resolve their goalscoring issues, they will be in a strong position to challenge for the title in the second half of the season.
Injuries and Depth in the Squad
Yakubu also acknowledged that injuries can play a major role in a title challenge, but having a squad with depth and players ready to step up is crucial. “It’s important to have others ready to deliver when key players get injured,” he added.
Arteta’s Leadership and Arsenal’s Future
Yakubu praised Arteta’s leadership and football intelligence, recalling their time together at Everton. “Arteta was unbelievable. He was a fantastic player and definitely one of the best I’ve ever played with,” he said.
Despite the pressure Arteta faces, Yakubu believes he is on the right path and that Arsenal should continue to support him. “Just because Arsenal aren’t at the top right now doesn’t mean he’s not doing well. They should give him another season, another chance,” Yakubu concluded.
Yakubu remains optimistic about Arsenal’s title prospects, believing that with a few adjustments, the team can make a real challenge for the Premier League crown.
