Arteta’s Inspiring Message to Arsenal’s Title-Chasing Squad: A Subtle Tweak at the Club’s HQ
Mikel Arteta is making small adjustments at Arsenal’s headquarters in an attempt to motivate the players who are pursuing the club’s first Premier League title since the Invincibles team of 2003/04.
Mikel Arteta has made a huge impact at Arsenal and his influence is there for all to see at the club’s London Colney training ground. The Gunners are riding high in the Premier League this season, five points clear of defending champions Manchester City and on course for their first title win in 19 years. Those are heady heights and they have been over three years in the making for Arteta, who has built from the ground up since taking over from Unai Emery in December 2019. The former Arsenal midfielder has taken what he learned while working under Pep Guardiola at City and implemented it in north London. The 40-year-old’s passion and personality is clear on the touchline and the way he wants his players to work can be seen at the training ground.
Mikel Arteta’s impact at Arsenal is evident at the team’s London Colney training ground. After taking over from Unai Emery in December 2019, Arteta has slowly but surely built up the team, drawing on his experience working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. The team is currently leading the Premier League by five points, a position that has been years in the making. Arteta’s passion and work ethic are clear in the way he conducts himself on the sidelines and in the way he expects his players to train.
According to GOAL, Arteta has incorporated motivational messages around the Emirates Stadium, such as “train to win” on the training ground floor and “play for the badge” elsewhere. This messaging seems to be having a positive impact on the team’s morale and unity, which has been evident in their recent four-game winning streak in the Premier League. Despite their strong focus on the Premier League, Arteta is not overlooking the importance of the Europa League, and the team is currently in Portugal for their last-16 match against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.
During his pre-match press conference, Arteta was questioned about his approach to the two-legged tie against Sporting Lisbon, considering Arsenal’s position in the Premier League. He stated that both competitions are of equal priority and that they must earn the right to progress in the Europa League. He acknowledged that Sporting Lisbon is a formidable opponent and that Arsenal would face a tough challenge in the upcoming match.
“The best way to prepare for any competition is to win the previous match and having that confidence and that proper emotion to approach the next game. Tomorrow we will if we play well and are able to win the game, for sure we’ll be able to prepare better for the next game.”
Asked to explain the thinking behind his lack of squad rotation for such fixtures, he added: “Because we have one team and we have to play the games with the best possible players to win it. There have been moments where we have made eight changes.
“We try to accommodate. Players have moments throughout the season, players are available and not available throughout the season. For sure we will try to put the best team to win the game.”
