You have to admire Mikel Arteta. He hears the whispers and the doubts. Can he take a team over the finish line? That perception will only grow if he fails to lift a trophy this season.
Despite the external noise and with cameras present at his training session on Monday, the manager did not seem concerned about the possibility of mockery or ridicule when he introduced a drill where players, in groups, had to dribble a ball while holding a pen.
Conviction and Leadership
A true leader stands by his convictions and refuses to be influenced by outside pressure to act in a certain way. It also suggests that the Spaniard feels secure in his role, regardless of what happens in the coming months.
Many coaches in a similar position would avoid anything that could make them appear foolish if they believed their employer had doubts.
The purpose of the pen exercise is to encourage multitasking and improve mental clarity. It is a method commonly used in drama schools and workshops.
It is not as unusual as when the 44-year-old brought a lightbulb from home or attempted to recreate the atmosphere at Anfield by playing You’ll Never Walk Alone at Colney through loudspeakers. On both occasions, Arsenal went on to lose their next match.
Innovation versus Perception
One of the more memorable examples remains when he invited his squad out for dinner, only for them to gradually realise that their wallets, phones, and car keys had gone missing. The manager had arranged for professional pickpockets, disguised as waiters, to carry out the exercise. This was his creative way of reminding players of the need to remain vigilant, focused, and aware of their surroundings. It might have been simpler and less costly to communicate that message directly.
There are supporters concerned that the campaign could unravel, yet when they look to their manager for reassurance, they see unconventional methods such as handing out pens.
It has been 22 years since the Gunners last lifted the Premiership. Is this where things have been going wrong, pens?
To be fair, it worked on Tuesday night.
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I honestly thought it was an April fools joke when I read it a few days back ….
This is the kind of stuff why opposition fans mock us ,couldn’t make it up 😂
Just a thought but maybe there’s another kind of Pen we should be practicing
in reality Arteta told his staff we need to practice with pens in training ?
staff – ‘ are you sure boss ‘
Arteta ‘ yes this is what I want ….pens ‘
staff drives to WH Smith
When Arteta comes out for training he sees players holding pens but now has to go along with it because they are so proud
‘ look boss I’m doing it ‘
Didn’t read the article but here wishful that we turn up on Saturday.
We have 3 home matches coming in the next 4 PL matches. Bournemouth, Newcastle, Fulham. The tough away match is City.
If we win B’mouth and Newcastle, and don’t lose to City, I think we are champions. Not because it’s mathematical but I think this would break City.
Every match is a cup final, come on boys!
Agreed
We also have West Ham Burnely and Palace to play. In previous years we have dropped points against these but if we want to be champions we must win those
His methods and tactics will be mocked like this article does until he wins a trophy.
Let’s see what he can do in this remaining 2 months left.
Consider current lead as 3 points lead. That allows us a draw, and Man City have to be perfect. The hardest matches are Bournemouth, Newcastle and West Ham. I would like us to stay perfect till West Ham to be comfortable.
But even with it – a major reshuffle is needed in the summer. With Hincapié already in summer books, we need players to go and for good value. Ben White and Gabriel Jesus have to move on, and Kiwior, Vieira, Nelson have to be used. Ethan, MLS, Kai, Trossard, Kepa, Martinelli have to be available if good offer comes
Shows you how observant I am, when I heard Arteta talking of pens the other day in training, I thought he was talking about penalty’s.
Now having read the Article, all becomes clear.
Hi Derek. There is a SI article detailing some other atypical drills MA was also using in training on Monday. I know he’s really trying to get the boys to focus on the task at hand but I hope he’s not inadvertently accomplishing the opposite. So far so good though. I really hope Barca isn’t able to come back from 0-2 down in their reverse AM feature. Imo, Barca and Bayern were always likely to be the most significant roadblocks to us winning the UCL.
Bruised Banana,
Don’t right off PSG, current holders remember.
watching Bayern and Real play is hard to imagine Arteta allowing us to play like that and essentially
CL title is out of reach for me. Those teams along with PSG are a class above especially the way the score goals.
We need a lull renovation of the front line and maybe another creative midfielder to get there.
Lets see if we can at least win the league. The rest hopefully with a trophy comes afterwards in the future.
Good for him. Lightens the mood in the training.
Maybe Arteta was sending a subliminal message to the team. Having lost in two recent Cups, maybe he was warning them that the writing is on the wall if they don’t wake up. 😂
A Madrid winning and Barca down to 10
I remember arsenal beating bayern convincingly at the emirates, and madrid got whooped by tjem home and away last season and yet you say arsenal are not at their levels. Sporting won 17 consecutive games at home before yesterday, they have 100% in the ucl before arsenal won there, they even beat the defending champions this season and finished in the top 8 and yet you talk like arsenal arent good in that game, if arsenal played all out attack and lost , may be you would say he should have played with handbrakes in lisbon.