Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Hires Pickpockets As Part Of Tactical Lesson To Squad
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta employed a bizarre method to teach his squad a valuable lesson by enlisting the help of professional pickpockets.
The 42-year-old tactician instructed the sleek snatchers to steal phones and wallets from the unsuspecting Arsenal squad during a team dinner, according to James McNicholas of The Athletic.
After the meal, Arteta stood up and asked the players to empty their pockets, with several of them discovering that valuable items were missing.
With his unconventional method, the Spanish tactician aimed to teach his squad the importance of being "ready, alert, and prepared" at all times.
Arteta will enter his fifth season as the full-time manager of the club after taking over the role in December 2019, midway through the 2019-20 season. He previously played for the club as a midfielder from 2011 to 2016.
Arsenal is looking to get over the hump after finishing second in the Premier League for the second consecutive year in a tight title race against Manchester City. The London-based club ended the 2023-24 league campaign with 89 points, just two points behind Manchester City's 91.
Mikel Arteta's Unusual Approach To Coaching Arsenal
Arteta has used various unusual tactics to shape his squad since taking over as head coach in 2019 and being elevated to manager in 2020, where he has overseen more aspects of the club beyond the sidelines.
Some of his previous methods to teach lessons include bringing an olive tree into a team meeting to explain the importance of togetherness to his young squad.
The former midfielder was also seen holding a light bulb in a pre-game talk before a Premier League matchup in April 2022, using the metaphor to encourage the creation of "energy and electricity."
The 2023-24 Globe Soccer Awards Best Premier League Coach recipient also adopted a dog named 'Win' to the training center to represent the club as a big family.
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