Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed his unconventional approach to preparing his team for the upcoming season by deliberately sabotaging their routine during pre-season training. He used techniques such as delaying meals and transport, taking different routes, and altering the dressing room conditions to test his players' adaptability under stress. Arteta explained that he wants his team to be able to adjust to unexpected situations on matchdays, citing examples of missed flights or delayed trains as potential scenarios. The goal is for the players to stay focused and composed in the face of adversity.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
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Story summary
Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal, has revealed that he intentionally disrupted his team's pre-season routine by sabotaging their plans. He wanted the players to learn how to adapt to unexpected situations, such as missing a flight or delayed transportation. Instead of going on a traditional summer tour like in previous years, Arsenal only traveled to Girona and Dublin for pre-season matches. Arteta's unusual approach was designed to prepare his team for potential disruptions during the upcoming season. He emphasized that players should not panic when faced with unexpected situations, but rather find ways to make use of their time and stay focused.
Written for “Arsenal Title Defence Tactics” on 2026-09-12,
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No political leaning scored for article 8028 · logged 2026-09-11
Arteta is known for being extremely regimented with his routine ahead of matches and those plans were disrupted on Tuesday night.
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plans → know → night
However, the Arsenal manager explained how he saw that as an opportunity for his players to adapt to the unusual circumstances.
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players → explain → circumstances
"I love those challenges," Arteta said.
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Arteta → love → challenges
"I try to create them in pre-season, so when they happen, we already experience them and we already know.
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we → try → them
“Get to the stadium very late, change the routine as soon as the players have to do something else.
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players → get → something
"Because when it happens, and it can happen - you can miss the flight, the train can be delayed, there's so much traffic.
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train → happen → flight
I don't want the players, but not only the players, the staff as well, panicking.
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players → want → ?
"When that happens, adapt to it.
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that → happen → it
Okay, we have another two or three hours on the plane, how can we use them?
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we → have → 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."
Those preparations involved Arteta deliberately sabotaging the routine of his players throughout pre-season.
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Arteta → play → season
Arsenal did not go on a big summer tour as they usually do, instead travelling only to Girona and Dublin, but that did not stop Arteta from finding opportunities to test his squad in new ways.
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that → go → ways
"Delaying the meals, delaying the transport, taking a different route," Arteta revealed.
"We've done many things.
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We → delay → things
Made the dressing room hotter, more difficult, more challenging, less [massage] beds.
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room → make → beds
Read More
"Those kind of things, because we're going to have to adapt to different contexts.
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we → read → contexts
We'll try to anticipate it and create the best possible conditions.
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We → try → conditions
"When there is not that element of surprise or stress on matchday, I think it's important."
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it → be → matchday
