Arteta takes unusual stance to motivate Arsenal players

Football is as much a mental game as it is physical, and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta knows this.

Being not one to follow the conventional path, Mikel Arteta enlists a new tactic to keep Arsenal’s players on their toes has left football fans in disbelief. The Gunners’ boss, known for his innovative and sometimes eccentric methods, reportedly pulled off his most surprising move yet by hiring professional pickpockets during a team dinner.

Arteta, who has transformed Arsenal into Premier League title contenders since taking over in 2019, orchestrated this unusual stunt to drive home a critical lesson about always being prepared.

According to The Athletic, the pickpockets stealthily relieved first-team stars of their phones and wallets as they dined, only for the players to realize their losses when Arteta asked them to check their pockets at the end of the meal.

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The message was clear: in football, just as in life, you must be ready and alert at all times. This bizarre but effective lesson is just one example of the unorthodox methods Arteta has employed to foster a winning mentality at Arsenal.

From adopting a dog named ‘Win’ to represent the ‘Arsenal family’ to having players hold hands during team talks and even blasting “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at training to simulate the Anfield atmosphere, Arteta’s approach is anything but ordinary. While these methods have endeared him to Arsenal fans, they’ve also drawn ridicule from rival supporters.

One fan took to X to express their disbelief: “There’re several other ways to teach the players to remain alert but Arteta has decided to do this cringe thing.”

Love it or hate it, Arteta’s unconventional approach is part of what makes him one of the most intriguing managers in the Premier League. Whether you find it inspiring or cringeworthy, there’s no denying that the Spaniard’s methods are making a lasting impact at Arsenal.