During a training session at the Sobha Realty training center in London Colney on 6/4, Arsenal players were observed participating in unconventional drills. One exercise involved players forming groups of four, holding a football between their heads, and moving across the field. In another drill, they had to balance a pen with their fingertips while coordinating passes.

While these exercises might aim to enhance focus and multitasking skills, they quickly became a subject of mockery on social media. Many critics suggested that these were merely "new tricks" by coach Mikel Arteta, unlikely to help the team compete for major titles.

On the X platform, one user commented, "You want to win the Champions League with this kind of training?", while another remarked, "The result will be a disaster anyway."

Since taking charge of Arsenal, Arteta has consistently employed unique methods to motivate and challenge his players. In the Amazon-produced original sports documentary All or Nothing: Arsenal, the 44-year-old coach once drew a heart and a brain holding hands, urging his squad to play with emotion while maintaining a cool head.

Arteta has also used a lightbulb during team meetings to illustrate connection, and loudly played "You’ll Never Walk Alone"—Liverpool's traditional anthem—during training. This was done to acclimate players to the intense atmosphere at Anfield before an away game. This season, Arteta removed the covers from the Emirates Stadium tunnel, allowing players to fully experience the crowd's roar immediately upon entering the field.

Arteta even hired professional pickpockets to discreetly take items during Arsenal's team meals, aiming to remind players to always be vigilant and react quickly. Furthermore, at the Colney training center, he named a Labrador dog "Win" as a way to instill determination in the subconscious. The Spanish manager also invited fighter pilots from the Royal Air Force (RAF) to Arsenal to analyze and improve his communication skills with the players.

Arteta regularly draws inspiration from other fields and sports. In a conversation with legendary basketball coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, Arteta expressed his willingness to "be open to criticism" by having outsiders analyze Arsenal's communication process. "If they say we are bad, we must accept and improve," he emphasized.

Arteta is also part of a WhatsApp group comprising international sports coaches, including Eddie Jones (rugby), Matt LaFleur (American football), and George Karl (basketball). From this group, he learned the concepts of "starters" and "finishers"—players who begin the game and those who come on to change its dynamics. This might explain why he prefers not to refer to substitute players as "reserves."

Arteta faces significant pressure, having only secured one major trophy for Arsenal, the FA Cup. This achievement does not align with the over 1 billion USD the club has spent on 42 new signings over more than six years under the Spanish manager.

In their two most recent matches, Arsenal lost 0-2 to Man City in the League Cup final and 1-2 to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals. However, the "Gunners" still have opportunities to compete in two competitions, aiming for their first title since the FA Cup in 2020. Arteta's team will face Sporting in the Champions League quarter-finals and currently leads Man City by 9 points in the Premier League.

Hong Duy (according to Daily Mail)