Arteta, a peculiar training: he makes Arsenal players steal to keep their concentration high

To steal the English throne from Manchester City, training alone is not enough. Mikel Artetato prepare his Arsenal in pursuit of the title, he has thus adopted an unusual tactic. According to The Athleticthe Spanish coach secretly hired a team of professional pickpockets, who went into action during the team dinner. Undisturbed among the tables, out of sight of the players, the thieves ransacked cell phones and wallets. “Empty your pockets,” Arteta asked his players when they were counting the bill. Only then did many players notice the pickpocketing.

Arteta, sixth season at the Gunners

After returning the stolen goods to their rightful owners, the coach explained to the team the reason for this unconventional training: the importance of always being readyat any time. An extravagant tactic, certainly not the only one of the Arteta era, ready to begin the sixth season on the Gunners bench.

The olive tree, a sign of unity

In 2023, the manager revealed that he uses a miniature olive tree during team meetings. After spotting the tree from his office window, he asked a member of staff to get a miniature replica. Arteta uses the tree to explain the importance of unity to his players, especially the younger ones. “That tree is another symbol of our club. It’s over 150 years old and we have to look after those roots every single day,” the manager said in a press conference.

A Labrador at training

But it doesn’t end there. A Labrador, adopted by Arteta himself to instil enthusiasm and counteract nervousness during the sessions at the Arsenal training center, also helps to enliven the training. The dog’s name (Win) seems auspicious. Will the training with pickpockets also be so?