How magical Arteta's sleight of hand helps boost Arsenal's Premier League title hopes

Arsenal's forward-thinking boss Mikel Arteta is employing 'sleight-of-hand' psychology to help assist his squad ahead of what could be a momentous season

Hello,

Happy Friday!

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is not afraid to use psychology in a bid to get more out of his players.

The Gunners leader is a keen advocate of communicating creative ideas to stimulate his squad, and has already carved out a reputation as a forward-thinking coach.

So, it was no wonder that news emerged this week of the progressive Basque secretly employing a team of pickpockets, while hosting a dinner with his players.

Why? Because the acclaimed 42-year-old wanted to teach his squad the importance of being alert at all times, after a number of the players missing items from their pockets at the end of the evening.

Arteta certainly has form for such unorthodox ingenuity.

Whether it be through sleight-of-hand tactics in and around matches (see below), or by utilising innovative thinking through visual and aural stimulation, Arteta is at the vanguard of progressive coaching methods, that are nowadays far removed from time spent simply honing players’ craft during training sessions.

Whether it be through motivational posters, sharing positive ‘trigger’ shapes on a whiteboard, clocks, employing light bulbs, olive trees, drafting the club’s gorgeous chocolate labrador as a lucky mascot (has there ever been a better name for a canine sporting mascot than ‘Win’), or using recordings of opposing supporters songs to familiarise players with hostile surroundings, the fact is Arteta is a leading proponent of cutting edge psychology in sport.

Whether it be as simple as drawing a big heart on the board before the North London derby, or even sharing his experiences of surgery with his players, the Arsenal boss also has huge emotional intelligence - something vital for leaders, in sport and in industry.

Of course, some ideas worked far better than others, for example wiring up speakers on London Colney’s training pitches to play ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ahead of a trip to Anfield back in 2021, still resulted in a resounding 4-0 defeat, while other novel motivational tricks did far better, such as illustrating that a light bulb cannot work unless it plugs into an electric supply - which was meant to underline the power and notion of teamwork.

While the 150-year-old olive tree - similar in age to Arsenal itself - was to demonstrate that roots have to be nurtured before something flourishes.

And as for ‘Win’, the loveable canine has the propensity to amble into team meetings, thereby reducing their intensity, and raising a much-needed calm - not to mention smiles - among the cohort.

Win, Arsenal’s lucky chocolate labrador, and loveable cheerleader

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A piece of cake

In terms of wining hearts and minds, I’ve briefly savoured being on the receiving end of Arteta’s attention for detail.

There was a pre-match press conference that happened to fall on Arteta’s birthday last year.

Instead of either cancelling it, as one manager further down the league I know actually did in the past, or by being grumpy with journalists trying to do their job, as I’ve seen a handful of certain managers behave. (It has to be said Arteta has such assured self-control I’ve never seen him lose his temper, or even give a stroppy answer, taking his lead from his former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger) Arteta gave a masterclass in sharing positivity.

What Arteta did was ensure that birthday cupcakes were to be given to all the assembled hacks, in a small, but hugely appreciated gesture.

I’ve actually still got the plastic Arsenal badge that adorned the top of my icing sugar encrusted, mouthwatering, sugary treat.

Such attention to detail is indicative of Arteta’s leadership style.

No wonder Jack Wilshere admitted to me in an exclusive interview this week that the club is on a high, with a ‘great vibe’. (Watch this space for more on our interview very soon…).

No doubt Arteta will be asked more on this over the coming week, and I’ll be there to try and fire a few questions at the relentlessly impressive Arsenal manager.

A piece of cake. One of Mikel Arteta’s birthday cupcakes handed out to journalists at London Colney, before being eaten by Layth. He still has the plastic Arsenal badge as a keepsake.

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Regular readers may be aware of my MBA-induced obsession with the concept of leadership, in particular, leadership in sporting circles.

Well, Arteta should be the subject of an article in the esteemed Harvard Business Review, such are his remarkable strategies.

No wonder he makes such a good leader.

For starters he has a clear vision.

Even prior to the Coronavirus pandemic I recall a trip down to the club’s training HQ at London Colney for a pre-match press conference, and asking Arteta what his philosophy was. ‘Winning,’ he replied.

I’ll be returning to the subject of leadership in depth throughout the season (read my piece on Gareth Southgate entitled How effective Leadership becomes vital for victory during Euro 2024) but Arteta - and his staff and team - certainly benefit from their manager’s effective leadership.

They also benefit from having Arteta having a clear daily structure - and assigning the same notion of structure to all his team.

He also engenders fierce loyalty from his staff by displaying loyalty and sharing his belief in their talents. (The redemption of Grant Xhaka anyone?).

Crucially, in a world of sycophants and shysters, Arteta is always open and honest with his staff - but equally has a set of ‘non-negotiables’.

I was there at Coleny for his first-ever press conference as Arsenal boss a matter of days before Christmas 2019, and I can still remember how refreshing it was that the new Arsenal boss had such firm principles and beliefs, not to mention a clear strategy.

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Examples of Arteta’s previous tactical sleight of hand

Who recalls Arteta confusing Liverpool in the 2020 FA Cup final by seemingly using Kieran Tierney as the left-sided centre-back in a back three with Ainsley Maitland-Niles (who returns with Lyon on Sunday) as a left-wing back in what ostensibly seemed to be a 3-4-3 system.

That was, until Arsenal were in possession, when Tierney powered down the wing as an auxiliary left-wing back, while Maitland-Niles tucked inside to supplement midfield numbers in the heart of battle, alongside Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny.

Or the time he fooled Manchester City into thinking Bukayo Saka was fit to play during the 1-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s side last October, when insisting the Hale End academy graduate sit on the team coach with his bag, seemingly in preparation for the match. It was only when the team sheets emerged that City had to reorganise their preparations for the big match, when Saka’s name was missing, due to a hidden injury.

Indeed, during the pre-match conference at the Emirates that I attended at London Colney prior to the match, a poker-faced Arteta nonchalantly downplayed any prospect of Saka missing the game.

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DAILY LIST:

I - Continue Gooner Fanzine proselytising

II - A spot of research as I gear up for the first game of the EFL season, when I’ll be covering Stevenage vs Shrewsbury on Saturday.

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WEEKEND LIST:

It is 50 years this week since American President Richard Nixon was forced out of office after Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered the Watergate scandal.

WHAT I’M WATCHING:

All the President’s Men

This week I’ve been re-watching an outstanding film that had a profound impact on me when I first watched it as a wide-eyed kid in the 1980s: All the President’s Men.

It is also one of the many reasons why I wanted to, and why I became, a journalist. If you haven’t seen it, you really should.

Such a powerful film based on such a powerful book of the same name by the two legendary Washington Post reporters.

WHAT I’M WATCHING II:

Amol Rajan’s interview with Woodward and Bernstein, first recorded last year, which was revisited on BBC Four in the early hours of Friday morning. Unmissable if, like me, you’re interested in the iconic journalists, not to mention the future of journalism, American and British politicians, and so much more.

WHAT I’M READING:

Speaking of journalists, during a visit to the Getty Centre in LA at the end of July, I managed to pick up a book by another of my journalism heroes, Joan Didion, called Where I Was From.

For more on the incomparable late Californian reporter I would heartily recommend the 2017 Netflix documentary The Center Will Not Hold for more on Joan and her life’s work.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO:

Bob Dylan. Having ticked off a life’s ambition to see Dylan in concert - we managed to grab tickets to see the genius songwriter and musician at the Hollywood Bowl, on an evening that will live with me forever - it seemed perfect to listen to the great man this week in the car.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“I think all good reporting is the same thing - the best attainable version of the truth.”

Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward.

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PS:

A big-hearted football fan has embarked on an arduous 800 mile charity challenge to visit every Premier League club before the start of season - and is set to drop by Arsenal vs Lyon on Sunday.

Inspirational Matthew Smith aims to raise funds for the If U Care Foundation, the suicide prevention charity he co-founded following the passing of his brother Daniel nearly two decades ago.

The 30-year-old’s efforts have already seen him run a whopping 30 miles per day this month - with the prospect of many hundreds more to come - after commencing his gruelling event on the south coast at Bournemouth, with the life-long Newcastle fan set to finish in his hometown on Friday, August 30.

Matthew is fundraising as part of the If U Care Foundation’s Mission 135, with the courageous runner boosting the charity’s year-long campaign to raise vital funds and awareness for suicide prevention and bereavement support.

Matthew intends to raise £135,000 as part of Mission 135 after crucial suicide prevention funding came to an end, which has significantly affected the ability to support certain areas of the North East.

Hardy runner Matthew wrote on his TotalGiving page: “In order to continue our life-saving work, we need the support of local communities more than ever.

“Why £135,000? We haven't just plucked this figure out of thin air. The 135 refers to a study [that] every suicide affects, on average, 135 people.

“To put that into context, that would equate to roughly 761,670 people across England and Wales in 2022 who have been affected by suicide.

“It's for the 135. It's for every 1.”

After visiting Arsenal at the Emirates Cup this Sunday, and the remaining number of top flight stadiums next week, Matthew will eventually end his run at his beloved St James’ Park.

Speaking to Mark Carruthers at the South Shields Gazette, brave Matthew is looking forward to finishing in his native North East: “I think for me personally, the significance and the association I have for it with Dan, my first ever game was with my Dad and Dan, for me, our community, our organisation and family, and by that I mean the If U Care Share family, to be able to bring this back to the North East is so special.”

If would you like to donate to such an important cause, click here

If you would like to welcome courageous Matthew to the Arsenal this weekend, please feel free to tweet @ifucareshare on Twitter and Instagram

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