“You don’t add that nonsense" - Pundit blasts Mikel Arteta for off-the-pitch antics with Arsenal players
Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has insisted Arsenal's players aren't listening to Mikel Arteta's training tactics. The Spaniard has utilized some bizarre off-field strategies to get the best out of his squad in recent seasons.
Arteta has gradually improved the Gunners since taking over as head coach in December 2019. He has led Arsenal to three trophies but is yet to help them win the Premier League title after falling just short to Manchester City over the past two seasons.
Arteta has bolstered his squad this summer by signing David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori on permanent deals. However, according to The Athletic, he secretly hired a team of professional pick-pockets, tasked with stealing the players' valuable items, during a recent team dinner.
At the end of the dinner, the 42-year-old instructed his players to empty their pockets. His strategy was to teach the Gunners the importance of staying alert and focused at all times.
Steve Nicol wasn't amused by the tactics as he told ESPN (via HITC):
“You don’t add that nonsense at the end of being alive all the time, unless you are serious. Light bulbs and all that nonsense. Are you being serious? I tell you what has worked, they have spent a lot of money on players, that’s what has worked. How about he has spent a lot of money on good players? (That’s what has made Arsenal improve, not Arteta’s off-field tactics)."
“Do you think when Arteta is walking around the dressing room and he has one of the coaches six yards behind him? Do you think the players are listening to what he is saying? They aren’t. They are sitting there going ‘what’s going on here?’ Stupid!” he added.
Arteta has also used some strange tactics in previous seasons. These include using a light bulb during a team talk to boost chemistry, playing Liverpool's iconic 'You'll Never Walk Alone' song during training, and introducing a dog named 'Win' to his players.
"He’s unbelievable" - Mikel Arteta reveals what Riccardo Calafiori brings to Arsenal after making his debut
Mikel Arteta praised Riccardo Calafiori for his versatility and physicality after the latter made his Arsenal debut in their 2-0 win over Lyon in the Emirates Cup final on Sunday, August 11.
The Gunners signed Calafiori for a reported transfer fee of £42 million from Bologna following his impressive Euro 2024 campaign. The Italy international came on in the 64th minute to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back against Lyon.
Arteta told Arsenal's official website after the match:
"He brings a lot of versatility, because he can play in two or three different positions and especially in attack, he can occupy different spaces because he’s a real defender. When you see his presence, his physicality, how he goes to the duels, he’s unbelievable. Obviously, he’s done a lot last year and I think he’s a player that can improve us."
Calafiori looked promising during his 26 minutes on the pitch, winning two duels, making two recoveries, two interceptions, and one clearance.