Former Nigeria’s striker and Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has said no fan or ex-player of the club would want Arsenal FC to win the Premier League title.

Mikel made the remark on his Obi One Podcast released on Monday as the Premier League title race intensifies, insisting that the long-standing rivalry between both London clubs makes such support impossible.

He said, “No Chelsea ex-player or fan will ever want to see Arsenal win the Premier League.

Responding to criticism from Arsenal supporters, Mikel dismissed claims that such sentiments reflect a “small club” mentality. He recalled that interactions between players and fans of both clubs were often hostile, even outside match settings.

To all Arsenal fans saying, ‘Mikel, you are too harsh on us,’ I’m Chelsea, and you can take it personally. I don’t want you to win the Premier League.

“We hated each other; the rivalry was crazy [back then]. We smashed each other. And when I went out after the games in London or whenever it was, when I saw Arsenal fans or players, we never spoke to each other. Sometimes, even our friends got into fights.”

He also warned that if Arsenal fails to win the Premier League this season, it would be the biggest disaster in the history of the competition for the Gunners.

“These Arsenal players, they have to understand that this is their probably, if they don’t win it (Premier League) this season. It’s probably going to be the biggest disaster in the history of the Premier League for them.

“It’s going to be the biggest disaster for them because right now, if they had won that game [against Bournemouth] on Saturday. It will be 12 points.

“They took their foot off the gas over the weekend, and Man City came right back, and right now it is 6 points.”

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are the latest team to book their spot at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after their 1-0 win against Jamaica, following extra time, in their intercontinental playoff final.

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe netted the only goal in the first half of extra time to settle the tie after a tense affair in normal time.

The former England under-21 international bundled ‌the ball over the line from a corner in the 100th minute, but had to wait for more than a minute while it was checked for a possible handball before being ⁠confirmed as a goal.

“We made it very difficult for ourselves, perhaps the occasion got the better of us,” said Tuanzebe, who now plays his club football for Burnley in the English Premier League.

“I am so proud of what I could do for the country, I’m so proud of the country, and now it is time to celebrate.”

It ⁠was as much as the Congolese deserved, having dominated proceedings in a fast-flowing match, albeit without many ⁠clear-cut chances at Estadio Guadalajara, which will be one ⁠of the three Mexican ⁠venues for the World Cup.

The victory means there will be 10 teams from Africa lining up at the 2026 edition of football’s showpiece event.

The DRC defeated Nigeria in a playoff at the end of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualifier to reach the intercontinental stage.

Jamaica beat New Caledonia on Thursday in their intercontinental pathway to reach this stage, while DRC’s ranking – as one of the African sides – meant they were placed straight into the final.

There seems to be no end in sight for Nigeria’s expectation on its petition to the world’s football ruling body over the petition against DR Congo.

FIFA on Tuesday launched the 100-day countdown to the 2026 World Cup but said nothing on Nigeria’s petition on players’ eligibility.

The development has deepened the frustration of millions of Nigerian football fans who have been waiting eagerly to know if the nation would feature in the global most important sports festival in history.