Arteta Admits He Deliberately ‘Sabotages’ Arsenal Before Matches
Mikel Arteta has revealed one of the strangest secrets behind Arsenal’s preparation methods.
The Arsenal boss deliberately creates uncomfortable situations for his players so they learn how to cope when things go wrong on matchday.
Arteta has admitted to delaying meals, changing transport arrangements, altering dressing-room conditions and even making rooms hotter than normal. The idea is to make players comfortable with being uncomfortable.
The Spanish coach believes footballers can panic when unexpected problems occur, such as delayed flights, traffic or changes to their normal routine. By exposing his squad to controlled disruptions during preparation, Arteta wants them to remain calm when genuine problems arrive.
His methods were put to the test recently when Arsenal’s flight to Italy was significantly delayed before their Champions League victory over Napoli. Despite the disruption, Arsenal remained focused and eventually secured a 1-0 victory.
Arteta has previously used even more unusual techniques, including simulated hostile environments and tests designed to improve players’ awareness.
The methods may sound bizarre, but Arsenal have started the season perfectly in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Now the question is whether Arteta’s unusual psychological approach can help Arsenal maintain that level when the pressure becomes even greater.