{"id":11667,"date":"2026-05-22T01:53:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T01:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=11667"},"modified":"2026-05-22T01:53:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T01:53:36","slug":"arsenal-legend-nigel-winterburn-discusses-mikel-artetas-champions-soccervoice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=11667","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal Legend Nigel Winterburn Discusses Mikel Arteta\u2019s Champions \u2013 SOCCERVOICE"},"content":{"rendered":"


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After 22 years of waiting and multiple seasons of second-place heartbreak, Arsenal are finally Premier League champions again, with a game to spare. Backed by a tremendous defence, set-piece dominance and a stronger squad than in the previous unsuccessful challenges, the Gunners can now head to the Champions League final in Budapest with one coveted trophy already secured.<\/p>\n

Just hours before Manchester City\u2019s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth confirmed Arsenal\u2019s title, our partners, Flashscore<\/strong>spoke with Nigel Winterburn<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The fifth-most appearances Gunners player to have won titles under George Graham and Ars\u00e9ne Wenger and had a lot to say comparing those famous side to Mikel Arteta\u2019s newly crowned champions.<\/p>\n

What did you make of Arsenal\u2019s latest 1-0 win over Burnley, the ninth time they\u2019ve won by that score this season?<\/strong> \u201cI think the first half was very controlled, lots of possession, and they created three or four good opportunities. But as you know, at 1-0 going in at halftime, it doesn\u2019t matter how dominant you are, when you\u2019re chasing your first Premier League title in a long time, nerves set in. \u201cYou could sense that nervousness in the second half, both on the pitch and in the stadium. But Arsenal have been very resolute this season, super organised. They\u2019ve frustrated a lot of teams, and again, they managed to see out another victory. \u201cUnless you\u2019ve played or supported a team that\u2019s this well-organised, it\u2019s easy to be critical, but when you see the discipline of the back five and how hard the whole team works for each other, you begin to appreciate it. \u201cSometimes the defensive side of the game is just as impressive as the attacking side, but it often goes unnoticed because people expect to be entertained by goals rather than organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Would you say that defensive organisation is the biggest change you\u2019ve seen in Mikel Arteta\u2019s Arsenal this season compared to previous years? Or maybe the newly found weapon in set pieces?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cListen, set plays have always been a crucial part of football. I call them almost \u2018cheap goals\u2019 because if you\u2019re so good at them, you put your opposition under immense pressure. \u201cBut the organisation might be the key difference now. This is definitely the strongest squad Arsenal and Arteta have had. I\u2019m not sure even the teams from two seasons ago could have weathered some of the defensive storms this team has come through. \u201cSometimes you want to see excitement and attacking play, but as I know from \u201889 and \u201891, when I played in a great defence, it\u2019s powerful for a team when everyone understands the defensive side. If this Arsenal team gets one goal, you believe they\u2019ll see it through, and that\u2019s something they\u2019ve done a lot this season.\u201d<\/p>\n

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It finishes 1-0 to the Arsenal with the winner coming from, you guessed it, a corner! \ud83d\udea9<\/p>\n

View the #PL<\/a> table. \ud83d\udcf2https:\/\/t.co\/zt0zK08C15#ARSBUR<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/78J6VKOohG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Flashscore.com (@Flashscorecom) May 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What are the biggest similarities and differences between this Arteta side, and the champion teams under Arsene Wenger or George Graham you played in?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s more of a resemblance to George Graham: strong organisation, discipline, and a huge emphasis on the defensive side. With Arsene Wenger, he trusted the back four he inherited, then added flair in midfield and up front and played a bit more open and direct, sometimes taking more risks than this current team does. \u201cArteta\u2019s current setup has more of that George Graham style. Organised and maybe a bit less willing to take risks compared to Wenger\u2019s more expressive sides.\u201d <\/p>\n

Which players from this current Arsenal team do you think would\u2019ve started in your title-winning sides?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI get asked that a lot, and sometimes the question gets flipped: would players from my team fit now? It\u2019s really difficult to say because the game was much more physical back then. Some of today\u2019s players could probably adapt, but it would be a shock to the system at first. \u201cThe real question is about mindset and fitting into the group. Ultimately, the best individuals aren\u2019t always the best team or squad, it\u2019s about how players fit a system and push each other to be the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is there a current Arsenal player you\u2019d have most liked to play alongside?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I flip the question, I\u2019d have loved to see Henry or Bergkamp in this current team, to be honest. As for today, Saka really stands out. Following his development has been a pleasure. \u201cDeclan Rice has been a powerhouse, and the two centre halves have been very strong. There are several I\u2019d have enjoyed playing with, but I wouldn\u2019t replace my own former teammates because their drive for success is what set them apart.\u201d <\/p>\n

What do you think has changed most under Arteta to turn Arsenal from \u201cnearly men\u201d in recent years into champions?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cLooking at just the last couple of seasons, the squad is much stronger now. Last season, Arsenal had a lot of injuries, but I don\u2019t think they\u2019d be top if the squad hadn\u2019t improved since then. There are players who were question marks at the start of the season who\u2019ve now played significant roles. \u201cThe biggest difference is the squad depth. Arteta now has meaningful options from the bench, and that\u2019s crucial in tight, goalless games rather than just when you\u2019re comfortably ahead. One player\u2019s injury shouldn\u2019t derail the whole season, and that strength in depth has made the biggest impact.\u201d <\/p>\n

Victor Gyokeres, the big-money striker signing, came into great form later in the campaign. He was involved in seven goals in the first half but seventeen in the second half of the season. What do you make of his evolution in the team?<\/strong> <\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, in the last few weeks, his performances have been on a different level. He really struggled at first. Bits I\u2019d seen before he joined Arsenal showed his power, pace, and willingness to run at defenders, but that wasn\u2019t there early on. He looked leggy. \u201cOver time, his hold-up play has improved, he\u2019s gained a bit of pace, maybe from confidence after scoring. Now the players recognise what he needs, and there\u2019s a growing trust between him and the team. At the start, he made lots of runs that didn\u2019t get picked out. He\u2019s much more comfortable and settled now than at any point before.\u201d<\/p>\n

David Raya has another Golden Glove award, and many fans say he\u2019s the team\u2019s difference maker. What do you make of his performances this year?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOutstanding, unbelievable shot-stopper. He\u2019s not been flawless; he\u2019s made the occasional mistake, but what you want in a goalkeeper is someone who commands his area and gives confidence to the defence. \u201cThe big thing with Raya is, like David Seaman, he makes massive saves at key moments when it really matters. You want that from your keeper in tight, crucial matches, not when you\u2019re already 3-0 up. Overall, his performances have been sensational this season.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a dramatic win over West Ham, with some late refereeing controversy. Was there anything controversial about the referee\u2019s decision at the end, disallowing the Hammers goal for a foul on Raya?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always controversial, it\u2019s Arsenal and everyone hates us! If you look at it, any time you make too much contact with a goalkeeper, it\u2019s usually a foul, though standards are different for outfield players. \u201cOn the incident itself, I said straight away the goal would be disallowed when I saw the replay. I think the game is heading towards cracking down on that kind of grappling at corners. You see it every week. I\u2019m not sure how they\u2019ll change it, but for me, the referee got that one right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Arsenal face PSG in the Champions League final in Budapest. What can Arsenal do to stop PSG from repeating their finals success?<\/strong> <\/p>\n

\u201cLast season, PSG peaked perfectly in the knockout stages, but we beat them comfortably in the league phase. The semi-finals were very close between the two sides. This year, I expect it\u2019ll be tight again. \u201cArsenal have to be on top of their game defensively to contain PSG\u2019s attacking threat. But if Arsenal can win the ball high up, they can disrupt PSG at the back. The last time we played them, Donnarumma had to pull off several stunning saves to get them through. \u201cArsenal must defend perfectly and, when they get chances against PSG\u2019s defence, be ready to take them with pace and power. I think it\u2019ll be a close final.\u201dme.\u201d<\/p>\n

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