Mikel Arteta has revealed that he deliberately wrecked an office at Arsenal on his first day as manager to test the attitude of the staff.
The Spaniard, who took charge at the Emirates Stadium in 2019 and led the Gunners to the Premier League title last season, said the unusual challenge was intended to expose how people felt about working within the organisation.
Arteta’s first day at Arsenal
Speaking to The Athletic, Arteta recalled: “I just destroyed the office and put everything on the floor — the computers, the laptops, the cables. Then bring everybody in.”
He told the staff that he had heard concerns about their experience at the club and gave them two minutes to restore the room and prepare to work together before leaving.
Arteta admitted the test could have ended his managerial career almost immediately if it had gone wrong. When he returned, however, he found the office “immaculate”, with everyone ready to listen.
He then told them the exercise was only the beginning of a collective effort, adding that the problems at Arsenal were deeper but that the opportunity ahead was “infinite”.
Arteta has since signed a new contract at the Emirates Stadium following his successful spell in charge. He has also said that he enjoys making the job unpredictable in order to bring greater interest to the repetitive routines of football.
