Arsenal suffered a surprising 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium last weekend, dealing a blow to their hopes of winning a first domestic title since 2004. The result narrowed the gap between Arsenal and Manchester City to one point, though Arsenal has played one more game. The Gunners are set to visit Manchester City in their next match on 19/4.

After losing only three of their first 49 games across all competitions (winning 37, drawing nine), Arsenal has now lost three of their four recent matches (winning one). This dip in form revives familiar questions about the team's mettle in crucial stages, a recurring issue given they have finished second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons.

Coach Mikel Arteta looks frustrated on the touchline as Arsenal lost 1-2 to Bournemouth in Premier League round 32 at Emirates Stadium, London, England on 11/4. Photo: Reuters

Speaking on the "Rest is Football" podcast, Lineker attributed the North London team's poor form to Arteta's unusual coaching philosophy. The former England international believes that title contenders need to maintain stability and avoid creating additional pressure before important games.

Lineker asserted that Arsenal is "making things difficult for themselves," implying that Arteta's recent training sessions are odd. He cited instances of players carrying pens, watching TikTok videos on large screens, and performing non-traditional drills.

"You shouldn't change things when you're competing for a title. Keep everything normal, calm. When you change, you inadvertently show that pressure is affecting you," Lineker said. He added that any adjustments should be made discreetly, not publicly, especially in the age of social media.

Arsenal plays TikTok videos on a large screen during a training session on 10/4.

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

Arteta also held a lightbulb during a team meeting to illustrate connection and played Liverpool's traditional anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" loudly during training. This was done to help his players become accustomed to the intense atmosphere at Anfield before an away match against the opponent.

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

Arsenal's unusual drills with balls and pens on 6/4.

However, Lineker argued that these methods are only acceptable when the team achieves positive results. "If you draw attention to yourself and then don't win, the problem gets even bigger," he stressed.

Hong Duy (via The Sun, Daily Mail)