Mikel Arteta has revealed he deliberately delayed transport and meals, removed massage beds and made changing rooms hotter during Arsenal's pre-season, as part of a plan to challenge his players before problems arise for real.
The Arsenal manager has long been known for unusual training-ground methods as he tries to keep the Premier League champions ahead of their rivals. He explained his latest tactics after the Gunners were caught up in this week's air traffic control chaos, which delayed and cancelled thousands of flights.
"I love those challenges, I try to create them in pre-season. So when they happen, we already experience them and we already know," Arteta said.
"So get to the stadium very late, change the routine and suddenly the players have to do something else. Because when it happens, and it can happen, you can miss the flight, the train can be delayed, there's so much traffic and I don't want the players, but not only the players, the staff as well, panicking," he said.
"When that happens, adapt to it. Okay, we have another two or three hours on the plane. How can we use them, play together, spend some time together, sleep? Use it, but certainly don't complain and then use it as an excuse because that's not helpful at all," Arteta added.
How Arteta tests his squad
Arteta expanded on the specific measures he used with his players and staff over pre-season. "Just delaying the meals, delaying the transport, taking a different route," he said. "We've done many things, made the dressing room hotter, more difficult, more challenging, less beds."
He said the aim was to prepare his squad to adapt to different situations, even while the club tries to provide the best possible conditions for matches. "But when there is not that element of surprise or stress on matchday, I think it's important," he said.
Arteta has previously drawn attention for other unconventional methods at Arsenal's training ground, including his use of speakers, most notably playing "You'll Never Walk Alone" before a 4-0 defeat at Anfield in 2021. He has also brought in the team dog, Win, and once hired "pickpockets" to keep his players alert.
Disrupted trip to Napoli
Arteta's comments came after Arsenal's Champions League opener away to Napoli in Naples was disrupted by the wider air traffic control chaos affecting flights this week. The trip went ahead on Tuesday despite the disruption, and Arsenal secured a 1-0 win over Napoli.
Arsenal's start to the season
Arteta's methods had been questioned by some in the past, but he went on to lead Arsenal to the club's first league title in 22 years last season.
Arsenal are currently joint top of the Premier League and travel to Sunderland on Saturday night. Along with Manchester City, they are one of only two clubs with a 100 per cent winning record from their opening three league matches of the season.
