For the second time Eagles’ midfield star, John Obi Mikel is coming under fire for the loss of another game by Premier League champions Chelsea.
The Blues were battered 3-1 by Arsenal on Monday at the Emirates Stadium. That was something that has never happened for two years. And for England and Tottenham star Jamie Redknapp, much of the blame should rest on Mikel’s shoulders, even though he was yanked off the game at half time.
“Mikel’s deep midfield role should be a dream position. You should boss the game, touch the ball 100 times and put out fires whenever there’s danger.
“ Mikel rarely passes the ball forward and is a weak link. Chelsea have lacked a good player there since the master, Claude Makelele, had the position named after him. Michael Essien could go there, but it would curb his instincts,” said Redknapp who was writing in his column in the Daily Mail.
Chelsea was a goal down at half and coach Carlo Ancelotti who thought that Mikel was not doing enough, brought in Ramires, for Mikel.
But that did not stop the Gunners from taking their pound of flesh, as Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott put two past Chelsea after Arsenal had gone ahead in the dying minutes of the first half with an Alex Song’s goal.
Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti admitted that there was need to buy in January, but he insisted that Mikel, Michael Essien and Ramires have done their best for the Blues.
“Every player has different skills: Mikel is not able to score but is fantastic defensively; Ramires the same; Essien has, I think, his skill to score from outside the box but he was injured for a month, so his condition has not been so good.”