O'Hara brands Premier League champions Arsenal 'unbearable' to watch
Jamie O'Hara has taken aim at Arsenal, labelling the Premier League champions the 'worst to watch' in the division and describing Mikel Arteta's side as 'unbearable'.
The former Tottenham midfielder made the comments on Sky Sports, where he was discussing Arsenal's position at the top of English football following their title triumph. O'Hara's criticism focuses on the viewing experience of watching Arteta's team rather than their results, which have seen them crowned champions.
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What O'Hara said
Speaking on Sky Sports, O'Hara did not hold back in his assessment of Arsenal as a watching spectacle, branding them 'unbearable' despite their status as reigning champions.
The comments arrive amid a broader debate among pundits about Arsenal's style under Arteta. Other voices on the same Sky Sports coverage have raised separate points about the squad, including suggestions that Arsenal lack 'star power' up front, while Paul Merse praised a recent win over Everton as 'comfortable'.
Context around the debate
Arsenal's approach under Arteta has long attracted scrutiny from pundits and rival fans, with critics occasionally pointing to a perceived lack of flair or excitement in how matches are controlled. Supporters of the team, however, would point to the end product: a Premier League title.
O'Hara's remarks are an opinion rather than a statement of fact, and are likely to divide reaction given Arsenal's recent trophy success. Aesthetic judgements about a team's style are inherently subjective, and Arsenal's results this season have spoken for themselves regardless of how entertaining rivals or pundits find their performances.
The debate over substance versus style is not new in football punditry, and Arsenal have found themselves at the centre of similar discussions throughout Arteta's tenure as the team has evolved from a work in progress into Premier League champions.
Arsenal will continue to be a focal point of such discussions as the season progresses, with results likely to remain the strongest counter to criticism of their style of play.
