Now or never, by Patrick Omorodion

We are told in 2 Corinthians 6:2 that “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation”.

The verse emphasizes that the present moment is the critical, urgent time for salvation and receiving God’s favor. In a layman’s understanding, it simply means, strike the iron when it is still hot, because that is only when you can mould it into a shape you desire.

It is a proverb that advises one to take advantage of an opportunity immediately, as favorable conditions are temporary. Today’s headline is taken from a music collaboration between two women, CXSPER, a German producer and Tkandz, a UK rapper. We are told that the 2025 viral rap track garnered over 3.36 billion views and 1.5 million creations on TikTok. Some lines in the lyrics go thus:” If I could do it, then why can’t you? Get up and make it work Yo, if I could do it, then why can’t you? (Why?) Huh, get up and make it work.

They don’t wanna see me win, but I know in the end I’m winning regardless.” Why have I gone this far to illustrate this head- line with the Bible verse, a proverb and the lyrics of the hit track by CXSPER and Tkandz? It is because of none other than Mikel Arteta and his army of players in the Arsenal squad who are on the edge of breaking what seems like a 22-year jinx in the English Premier League.

Before the shocking 1-2 loss to Bournemouth at the Emirates of all places, Arsenal’s fans and most others had concluded that this year is the year for Arteta who has been dubbed a ‘nearly coach’ for the last three seasons. In the morning of Saturday, April 11, 2026, Arsenal had a nine point lead ahead of their closest rival, Manchester City and needed to beat Bournemouth to make it 12 points, even though the Pep Guardiola team have an outstanding match.

It was therefore a shock when Arsenal fell to a 17th minute goal by the visitors, struggled to equalise and in the 74th minute crumbled again like a pack of cards, a loss that has put them in a precarious situation as it were now. If they had beaten Bournemouth before Manchester City played Chelsea, they would have garnered 73 points, 12 clear points from City’s 61 points.

The loss meant that they remained at 70 points while City had to go full throttle to annihilate Chelsea 3-0 and garner the maximum points to be on 64 points, reducing the gap to six points.

As it is today, it is ‘Now or Never’ for Arteta and his wards to put up a fight at the Etihad and beat City or at worse play a draw.

And Arteta should be reciting this line of CXSPER and Tkandz hit track Now or Never, “They don’t wanna see me win, but I know in the end I’m winning regardless.”

Many followers of the Premier League, arguably the most glamorous among Europe’s top five, believe that today’s match will determine who emerges champions. As it is now, the title is City’s to lose. If City win today, they will further close the gap between them and Arsenal to three points with a game against Crystal Palace which they are not likely to lose, knowing how dogged Guardiola is once he starts smelling the trophy.

Arteta, who may be under pressure now is however, talking tough even though he agrees that their opponents are not only a good team but have an equally sound coach in Guardiola, ironically Arteta’s former boss.

Arteta said: “We have earned the right to be in this position, to be challenging and with the opportunity to win and to win on Sunday, arguably against the best team and the best manager that this league has ever seen. That’s a huge privilege and we cannot wait to play the game. We are going to prepare for the game to win it. We are not going to spend one second talking about [a draw], we prepare every game to win and that’s why we are where we are. We are going to continue to do the same.”

Would Arteta live up to these words considering that some of his key players are still nursing injuries or just coming back and may not be hundred percent fit?

On his part, Guardiola who at some point in the season had given up hope on the title says if they lose to Arsenal today, then the title race is as good as over for Man City.

“Obviously, if we lose it’s over. But the other two results, Arsenal didn’t beat Bournemouth and there are still games to play. Six games is a lot in our calendar especially. Still many things to do. The reality is there are seven games left for us in the Premier League and that is the decisive moment,” he said in an interview.

If Man City beat Arsenal today and win their outstanding match, they will catch up with Arsenal on 70 points. From that point, Arsenal could only become champions and break the 22 years jinx of being without the Premier League title if they win all the remaining six matches and scoring many goals as goals may be the decider then.

Today’s match therefore, I dare say, will go to the team whose players have more hunger for victory and for the coach that has a better tactical approach.

Away from the Etihad cracker today, I want to talk about the loss suffered by one of Nigeria’s star athletes, Favour Ofili.

She may not have expected that World Athletics would deny her the request to switch nationality from Nigeria to Turkey, so she must be heartbroken.

It is not enough for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, to celebrate World Athletics decision and welcome Ofili. 

Because they caused why she sought to switch nationality, they must find out first if she really wants to continue representing Nigeria.

If yes, then they must go back to the panel report the sports ministry set up after the Paris Olympics brouhaha and implement its recommendations which includes compensation for her troubles.

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