Mikel Arteta has revealed some of the ways he tries to embrace the challenge of unpredictable pre-match routines after Arsenal\u2019s delayed flight to face Napoli in the Champions League this week.<\/p>\n
Arsenal were due to fly to Naples in the early evening of Tuesday, September 8, but Air Traffic Control issues in the UK resulted in significant delays, which saw them arrive in Italy late that night.<\/p>\n
Arsenal stayed at their training ground while waiting for the green light to fly from Luton, and had trained earlier in the day, but the delay led to mandatory pre-match media activities (scheduled for 7.30pm local time) being cancelled.<\/p>\n
Asked about the situation before their 1-0 win, Arteta said in his press conference on Friday: \u201cI love those challenges and I try to create them in pre-season, so when they happen, we\u2019ve already experienced them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pushed for examples of how he creates those challenges, he added: \u201cGet to the stadium very late, change the routine. Delay the meals, delay the transport, take different routes. We\u2019ve done many things. Make the dressing rooms hotter, more difficult, less (massage) beds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arteta has grown a reputation for creative ways to keep his players on their toes. One such ruse, revealed by The Athletic in August 2024<\/a>, involved a team of pickpockets being hired to teach his squad the importance of being ready, alert and prepared at all times.<\/p>\n That was a valuable lesson as the previous season, silly errors and lapses in concentration led to the side conceding goals that hamstrung their title ambitions.<\/p>\n Is Kai Havertz the best player in the Premier League so far this season? <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to adapt to different contexts,\u201d Arteta said. \u201cWe try to anticipate it and create the best possible conditions but I think it\u2019s important when there is not that element of surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cIt can happen, you can miss a flight, a train can be late, there can be traffic and I don\u2019t want the players or staff panicking. When that happens, adapt to it. \u2018Okay, we have another two or three hours on a plane, how can we use them?\u2019 Play together, spend time together, sleep, but certainly don\u2019t complain and use it as an excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n At a dinner with his players, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta secretly hired a team of professional pickpockets. <\/p>\n The sleight-of-hand artists were tasked with going round the tables, pinching phones and wallets from an unwitting first-team squad.<\/p>\n At the end of the meal, Arteta\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/0had2PUZF5<\/a><\/p>\n