Mikel Arteta has revealed how he deliberately disrupted Arsenal’s pre-season preparations, using delayed transport, uncomfortable surroundings and unexpected changes to keep his players alert.
The Arsenal manager explained that his methods were designed to prepare the squad for the uncertainty of matchdays, where circumstances may not always be ideal. He joked that cancelling flights was beyond his control, but said he had found other ways to unsettle the team.
Mikel Arteta explains Arsenal pre-season disruption
“We cannot get that done, but just delay the transport, took a different route…” Arteta said during his latest press conference.
He added: “We’ve done many things – make the dressing room hotter, more difficult, more challenging, less beds, those kind of things that in my opinion … because we’re going to have to adapt to different contexts, and we will try to anticipate it and create the best possible conditions.
“When there is not that element of stress or surprise on matchday, I think that’s important.”
Arteta’s approach reflects his focus on finding marginal gains and ensuring Arsenal can respond when conditions change. Rather than allowing the players to become too comfortable, he sought to create situations that would test their concentration before competitive fixtures.
The methods are likely to amuse Arsenal supporters, particularly given the progress made under Arteta. Arsenal won the Premier League last season and came close to claiming the Champions League, eventually losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.
