Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has opened up about the unconventional methods he uses to keep his players mentally sharp and prepared for the unexpected.
The Gunners boss has long been known for obsessing over the finest of margins, and it appears that extends well beyond standard training ground routines.
Arteta, speaking at his latest press conference, admitted to deliberately engineering stressful situations during pre-season to force his squad to adapt under pressure.
While he joked that cancelling flights was beyond his reach, the Spaniard revealed he had found plenty of other creative ways to unsettle his players before matchdays.
“We cannot get that done, but just delay the transport, took a different route…” Arteta said, giving a glimpse into just how far he is willing to go.
“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.”
Arteta was clear about the underlying philosophy driving these unusual decisions, emphasising the importance of keeping players alert and ready for disruption at any moment.
“When there is not that element of stress or surprise on matchday, I think that’s important,” he added, underlining how central this mindset is to his approach.
The intention behind these methods is to simulate the kind of unpredictable conditions Arsenal could face during competitive fixtures, ensuring no player is ever caught off guard.
Arsenal supporters will likely find these revelations both amusing and reassuring, given how effectively Arteta has transformed the club into a genuine force in English and European football.
The 2025-26 season has continued to demonstrate the fruits of his meticulous approach, with Arsenal having won the Premier League title last season under his guidance.
Arteta’s side also came agonisingly close to claiming Champions League glory, ultimately losing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in what was a landmark run for the club.
That near-miss will only have strengthened his resolve to squeeze every last competitive advantage out of his squad, even if that means a slightly warmer dressing room or a longer journey than expected.
