Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Admits to Sabotaging Player Routines
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed he intentionally disrupts his players' routines and creates unexpected challenges to prevent panic when real disruptions occur.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed that he intentionally disrupts his players' routines before matches to prepare them for unexpected situations and prevent panic. During Arsenal's trip to Naples, which was delayed by three hours due to UK air traffic control issues, Arteta explained that his squad was already accustomed to such scenarios.
"I like these challenges. I try to create them myself in pre-season," Arteta said. The Spanish manager admitted to deliberately altering schedules, changing travel routes, arriving late to stadiums, and delaying meals and transport. "When these things happen, I don't want the players and staff to panic. We need to adapt and not use it as an excuse."
Arteta also noted that his staff occasionally makes the dressing room hot and uncomfortable, while reducing the number of available massage beds. "We are going to be required to adapt to different conditions, so we try to anticipate them," he explained.
These methods add to a long list of unusual exercises Arteta has employed in the past, including hiring a pickpocketing illusionist disguised as a waiter to steal items from players during a team dinner, and blasting "You'll Never Walk Alone" over the training ground loudspeakers before a match at Anfield to simulate the hostile atmosphere.
