Mikel Arteta (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta used professional pickpockets during a team dinner to highlight the importance of staying alert, emphasizing constant vigilance and preparation.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, made an unconventional decision by hiring professional pickpockets to discreetly steal from his players during a team dinner, aiming to teach them the importance of constant vigilance.
Under Arteta's direction, Arsenal has transformed into a team that believes in itself, competing head-to-head with Manchester City for the title over the past few seasons—a feat that seemed impossible five years ago. To foster growth in all aspects, Arteta continually innovates.
Recently, 'The Athletic' revealed one of the coach’s latest tactics. During a team dinner, Arteta secretly hired a team of professional pickpockets. These faux thieves were tasked with stealing as many items as possible from the unsuspecting players.
At the end of the meal, Arteta asked his players to empty their pockets, and they were astonished by the number of items they had lost. This memorable event underscored the importance of always being alert and prepared for unexpected challenges.
'The Athletic' noted that this was just one example of Arteta's many methods to gradually shift the Gunners' mentality.
"His influence is evident in every aspect of Arsenal. He has shaped the team around a strong competitive spirit, and his obsession with improvement has been contagious within the squad and the club," the publication detailed.
Although Arteta has fiercely competed with Manchester City for the Premier League title in the past two seasons, he is still striving for his first major trophy as Arsenal's manager. So far, he has won the 2019-20 FA Cup and the Community Shields in 2020 and 2023. He hopes to add a more significant title to his collection this season.