How Mikel Arteta motivates Arsenal stars – pickpockets, olive trees and lightbulbs

Mikel Arteta has been the catalyst for a significant shift in mentality at Arsenal, despite his unconventional methods causing confusion. After some frustrating final years of Arsene Wenger’s reign, it was hoped his exit in 2018 would provide a much-needed fresh start.

However, it wasn’t until 18 months later when Edu, the Gunners’ freshly appointed technical director, appointed Arteta as Unai Emery’s successor that a true reset was initiated. While one has pulled the strings in the boardroom, the other has spearheaded a complete cultural overhaul in the dressing room.

Only three players remain from the squad he inherited and the results he’s delivered are indisputable. Along the way, though, some of Arteta’s motivational tactics have drawn mockery due to their unconventional nature – including his latest pickpocketing stunt.

YNWA in training

With the pandemic disrupting much of Arteta’s first two seasons in charge, insights into his reign were few and far between. However, Amazon’s All or Nothing documentary provided a captivating glimpse into his management style.

One of the most discussed moments from the series involved him setting up speakers around the training pitch to play Liverpool’s anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone prior to their league match at Anfield.

The attempt to mimic the atmosphere they would encounter fell flat, with Arsenal suffering a 4-0 defeat. That was far from the only unique tactic showcased in the documentary.

Lightbulb team talk

In a dramatic team talk, Arteta once held up a lightbulb to inspire his players before a crucial match against Brighton, declaring: “Edison invented the light bulb. Today I want to see a team that is connected because a bulb by itself is nothing. I want to see a team that is connected with each other and that shines.

“And you want to transmit to him light and energy and passion and how you play football, and you two the same. And each of us plays the game connected, because what happens when we play connected, guys? What is the next thing that happens? That we connect with 60,000 people who create more energy.

“Because at the end is electricity, that through heat creates light and life. Because if not it would be f****** dark if this guy doesn’t have the idea to do that. And I want you to play like this today, because as good as we are it depends on one thing. What makes us special is our attitude, and today I want you to play with that attitude. Go out there, f****** turn the light on, and play football. Let’s go!”

Despite the electrifying speech, Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brighton, dashing their Champions League hopes.

Toney tweet

Another memorable pre-match moment captured in the series was when Arteta used Ivan Toney’s tweet to motivate his squad ahead of their Brentford clash, following a 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.

“I have managed to keep it in my stomach for six months,” Arteta began. “This is Toney after the game when we played them at Brentford. You know what he did, you know his tweet? ‘Nice kickabout with the boys this afternoon’.

“So, today they play in our house guys, and there is only one team in that f****** pithead. Only team, they don’t play, we take the f****** ball, we take the game and we go for it. Let’s win this f****** game let’s go.”

And to be fair, on that occasion, they won 2-1. Toney could now of course be headed to the Emirates as one of Arsenal’s striker targets.

Adopting a dog

Arsenal were a whole new prospect on the pitch the following season, flying in the league before ultimately falling short of Manchester City. Morale was naturally low after their collapse, so Arteta bought a dog for their London Colney base.

Chocolate labrador Win became his newest signing thanks to research showing petting a dog can be calming, mood-improving and a stress reliever. “I feel like we are a family and we need a dog to represent that family,” he said at the time.

“I carefully chose the dog and in my opinion it’s the perfect representative of who we are right now. Her name is Win, we all love winning and Win needs a lot of love. So the love for Win, that was basically the feeling.

“The reaction from the players and the staff has been incredible, she is one of us. She is going to be on this journey with us together. Win needs accountability from us because we have to look after her as well, her emotions and what she needs.”

Blank trophy

Another motivating tactic came to light last summer – a blanked-out Premier League trophy on a wall at the club’s training ground, which Edu showed to new signing Jurrien Timber after his arrival from Ajax.

“Here, we leave the trophy dark like this, but under there, there is a way to make that shiny. We will make that shiny [when we win the Premier League],” said Edu.

Olive tree

Also towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign, Arteta decided to remind his players to stick together through thick and thin with a miniature olive tree. He had one made after spotting a full-sized one from the window of his office, using it in his team talks.

“Another symbol at the club is our tree,” he explained in a press conference. “It needs a lot of care as well. It’s an olive tree, it’s older than 150 years, similar to the club, and we have to look after those roots every single to the day, make sure they don’t get poisoned, don’t get damaged and it’s in the right condition.”

Pickpockets

Arteta’s bizarre methods are all part of his attempts to foster a sense of togetherness in north London as Arsenal look to finally get their hands on a first league title since the Invincibles of 2004. And while his tactics may seem strange to some, there’s no doubt that his players are buying into what he’s trying to achieve at the Emirates.

In maybe his most bizarre move yet, the Spaniard hired professional pickpockets to steal from his players during a team meal, according to The Athletic. The squad were left stunned when they discovered their phones and wallets missing after dinner.

This unconventional tactic was apparently a lesson in staying alert and prepared for any situation – a strategy that some might consider a stretch from Arteta. However, having been defeated by Pep Guardiola’s supreme City side twice consecutively, perhaps this is the kind of eccentric genius required to overcome them this season.