Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained that his side coped comfortably with a lengthy travel delay ahead of their Champions League clash with Napoli this week because he had deliberately exposed his players to similar disruptions during pre-season training.
The Premier League champions were forced to wait roughly three hours longer than planned before departing for Italy, after air traffic control problems disrupted their journey. Despite the setback, Arsenal's players reportedly remained composed, something Arteta credited to his unconventional preparation methods.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, ahead of Arsenal's Premier League fixture at Sunderland on Saturday evening, Arteta said he intentionally builds obstacles into his squad's routine well before the season begins so that any real disruptions feel familiar rather than alarming.
"I love those challenges, I try to create them in pre-season," Arteta said. "So when they happen, we have already experienced them and we are ready."
He described scenarios in which his squad might arrive at a stadium later than usual or have their normal schedule altered without warning, all designed to simulate the unpredictability of real matchday situations. "Get to the stadium very late, change the routine so the players have to do something else," he explained. "When it happens, and it can — the flight can be cancelled, or the train is delayed, there is so much traffic, I don't want the players and staff panicking."
According to Arteta, the key lies in how the squad reacts once disruption strikes. He pointed to the recent flight delay as an example, noting that unexpected free time can be turned into an opportunity rather than a hindrance. "When that happens, adapt to it. We have two or three hours on the plane — can we use it? Play together, spend some time together, sleep," he said, before adding a firm message about mentality: "But don't complain or use it as an excuse because it's not helpful at all."
Arteta further revealed that his preparation extends beyond travel simulations. He said he sometimes delays meal times or transport, alters the routes taken to the stadium, and even adjusts the temperature of the dressing room to make it uncomfortably warm — all methods aimed at conditioning players to remain focused regardless of external inconveniences. The Spanish coach believes this approach limits the emotional impact of stress or unexpected changes when they arise on matchdays.
This is far from the first time Arteta's unusual methods have drawn attention. He once brought a light bulb into the Arsenal dressing room as a symbolic gesture, urging his players to bring energy and brightness to their performances. In another instance, he arranged for professional pickpockets to attend a team dinner, using the experience of having phones and wallets taken as a lesson in staying alert and aware.
In 2023, Arteta introduced a dog named Win to the club's training sessions, describing the gesture as a way of reinforcing the sense of unity and family within the squad. His willingness to embrace unconventional tactics has also inspired others at the club — in April, a fire was reportedly lit at Arsenal's training ground ahead of a Champions League meeting with Sporting, echoing the manager's belief in preparing players for atypical circumstances.
With Arsenal's title defense in the Premier League firmly underway and their Champions League campaign continuing, Arteta's emphasis on mental resilience and adaptability appears central to how he wants his squad to operate both on and off the pitch.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.