Mikel Arteta explains how he ‘sabotaged’ pre-season to prepare Arsenal for chaos
Mikel Arteta deliberately disrupted Arsenal’s routines during pre-season to make his players comfortable with the unexpected challenges they could face during the campaign.
Mikel Arteta has revealed that he deliberately made Arsenal’s pre-season preparations more difficult as part of an unusual attempt to strengthen the squad’s mentality and ability to cope with unexpected problems.
The Arsenal manager explained that he wanted players and staff to experience disruption before competitive matches so they would be less likely to panic when genuine problems occurred.
His methods included changing travel routes, delaying meals and transport, making dressing rooms uncomfortably warm and reducing the number of massage tables available to the squad.
Rather than allowing those situations to become distractions, Arteta wanted his players to learn how to remain calm, adjust their plans and make the best use of difficult circumstances.
His approach became particularly relevant this week when Arsenal’s flight to Naples for their Champions League opener was delayed by problems affecting the UK air traffic control system.
The disruption forced the cancellation of Arteta’s scheduled pre-match press conference, but Arsenal eventually reached Italy and went on to beat Napoli 1-0, with Martin Ødegaard scoring the decisive goal.
Turning Problems Into Preparation
Arteta believes unexpected setbacks are inevitable across a long season, particularly for a club competing domestically and in Europe.
Instead of treating delays, uncomfortable surroundings or altered schedules as excuses, he has attempted to make his squad familiar with those situations in advance.
The Spaniard’s message is simple: when something goes wrong, players should concentrate on what they can control rather than waste energy complaining.
Arsenal Already Showing The Benefits
The Napoli trip provided a real-world test of the mentality Arteta has tried to develop. Arsenal spent hours dealing with travel disruption before arriving in Italy later than planned, yet they produced a disciplined performance to secure an important European victory.
The Telegraph reported that Arteta’s wider philosophy is built around creating a mentally resilient group capable of responding positively when circumstances change.
More Than Football Tactics
Arteta’s methods underline how much importance he places on psychological preparation. His Arsenal teams have previously been exposed to unusual exercises designed to improve concentration, awareness and emotional control.
The latest experiments show that his preparation goes beyond formations and tactical instructions, with the manager attempting to condition the entire squad for the pressure and unpredictability of elite football.
Arteta’s Bigger Challenge
The real test will be whether Arsenal can maintain that resilience throughout a demanding campaign. As reigning Premier League champions and one of Europe’s leading contenders, they face pressure from multiple fronts.
Arteta’s unconventional pre-season exercises may look extreme, but the early evidence suggests Arsenal are becoming increasingly comfortable when matches do not follow the script.
