By Adegboyega Adeleye
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed how he deliberately creates unexpected disruptions during pre-season to prepare his players for the chaos that can occur on matchdays.
Arteta’s Premier League champions were affected by air traffic control problems while travelling to Italy for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Napoli, arriving three hours later than scheduled.
According to the BBC, Arteta said Arsenal were prepared for the disruption because he had already exposed his players to similar situations during pre-season.
“I love those challenges, I try to create them in pre-season,” Arteta said.
“So when they happen, we have already experienced them and we are ready.”
The Spaniard said he deliberately changes routines by delaying transport or meals, taking different routes to stadiums and even making dressing rooms hotter and more uncomfortable.
“Get to the stadium very late, change the routine so the players have to do something else,” he added.
“When it happens, and it can – the flight can be cancelled, or the train is delayed, there is so much traffic, I don’t want the players and staff panicking.”
Arteta said the disruptions are designed to teach his players to adapt rather than complain or allow unexpected events to affect their performance.
“When that happens, adapt to it. We have two or three hours on the plane – can we use it? Play together, spend some time together, sleep.
“But don’t complain or use it as an excuse because it’s not helpful at all.”
The Arsenal boss has previously employed several unusual methods to prepare his squad.
He once brought a light bulb into the dressing room while asking his players to be energetic and “shine”, while on another occasion he hired professional pickpockets to steal players’ phones and wallets during a team dinner as a lesson in staying alert.
In 2023, Arteta also brought a dog named Win into Arsenal’s training ground to boost morale and reinforce the idea of the team as a family.
His unconventional methods have also been adopted by others at the club, with a fire lit at the training ground before Arsenal hosted Sporting in the Champions League in April.
Arteta’s side travel to Sunderland on Saturday as they continue their Premier League title defence.
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