Arteta hired a team of professional pickpockets whilst at dinner with Arsenal players

It is a fact that Arsenal is a different team under Mikel Arteta. The Spanish coach has managed to make the Gunners believe in themselves again and they have been fighting for the title with Manchester City for a couple of seasons now, something that seemed impossible five years ago.

In order to make his players grow in all facets, the coach has been constantly innovating. 'The Athletic' recently unveiled one of the San Sebastian-born coach's latest experiments. Ahead of a dinner with the team, Arteta secretly hired a team of professional pickpockets.

The task of these fake thieves was to steal as many items as possible from the clueless players. At the conclusion of the dinner, the coach asked his players to empty their pockets and they were surprised at the large number of items they had lost. 

Thanks to this event that everyone in the squad remembers, Arteta transmitted to his players the need to always be alert and prepared for the difficulties that may arise. 'The Athletic' confirmed that it was just one example of many of a manager who has managed to change the mentality of the Gunners little by little.

"His influence is evident in every dimension within Arsenal. He has managed to build a team around a great competitive spirit and his obsession to improve has been contagious in his squad and at the club," the media quoted Arteta as saying of the changes he has implemented.

Although he has been fighting the last two Premier Leagues against Manchester City until the end, the coach from San Sebastian is still struggling to win his first major title as a Gunner. For the moment, the former Londoner has won the FA Cup in 2019-20 and the Community Shields in 2020 and 2023, titles that he hopes to follow up with another major one later this season.

 

August 8, 2024