The Arsenal: Relaxed but ready for PSG

A busy Monday took in Arsenal's open training at Colney before heading to the Emirates for Arteta's and Martinelli's pressers - here's what I learned

Hello,

Happy Tuesday,

The big day has finally arrived, Arsenal vs PSG.

I spent Monday afternoon at London Colney taking a look at the Gunners open training for the media, before heading down to the Emirates via the M25, to catch PSG’s pre-match kickabout, prior to attending Gabi Martinelli and Mikel Arteta’s pre-match press conferences.

A relaxed Declan Rice during open training for the media on Monday at London Colney. PICTURE COURTESY OF ARSENAL FC

I have to say that I’ve never seen the team looking so relaxed during open training. You never get any trade secrets at these type of events, but you can get an insight into body language and a general sense of where a side is in regards to team spirt.

(As an aside, you should have seen the downbeat tempo when Mesut Ozil would stroll out surrounded by his clique, blimey, it was enough to suck all the air of the room, but that’s a story for another day. )

So, to see how upbeat, yet breezy, calm and carefree the entire squad was as they took part in their mandatory media performance as required by UEFA (that’s why you don’t get weekly media open training for Premier League games, because, quite simply the PL doesn't want it) was as refreshing as it was reassuring.

Of course, it might not mean a thing, but I’d rather a team looked relaxed before their biggest Euro game in 16 years, than tense, irritable and/or frozen with fear.

The sense of togetherness was palpable.

Coaches insisted on drills that included everyone.

If you take a look at my X posts from Colney (and no, I won’t call it the Sobha Sobha something something training centre after 40 years of calling it London Colney thank you very much) you can see video of everyone holding hands playing a type of rondo that ended in an eruption of cheers and good-natured jeers, as played jumped on each other in jest and joshing.

It was great to see, and raised a smile from watching footballers enjoy their job. Come kick-off tonight, it might not mean a hill of beans, but I never saw such good spirts at open training during Arsenal’s 2019 Europa League, run for example.

I then raced over to North London (at legal speeds of course, impossible to do anything otherwise when you use the M25) to catch PSG’s open training. Which seemed to consist of the entire PSG squad standing on the circle booting the ball to each other.

Fair enough, the essential work has already been done, with no doubt, tweaks added once the media decamped to the Emirates media theatre to catch Martinelli and Arteta’s pressers. (I did see preparations in place for the big Tifo, although I won’t spoil it for you here.)

I have to say that I prefer it when Arteta is relaxed but focussed. Rather than irritable or stressed. And my word Arteta was gimlet-eyed yesterday. He kept underlining and re-iterating that the sense of occasion should be embraced, that the magnitude of what they were working for should be welcomed not feared, and that togethernesss was the key - the bond between the players of course, but also between the squad and the fans. It was marvellous to watch him in his element.

I don’t think we realise the esteem he is held in abroad. The respect the Spanish journalists showed him after Arsenal’s triumph in the Bernabeu (and don’t forget Arteta is a Basque, and certainly not from Castille) was tangible.

The Emirates media room was packed last night, with the assembled French press full of admiration for PSG’s former player, as we all listened, rapt, to Arteta saying: “We want to do something special, that place has to be something special, something that we haven't seen. And I really hope that everybody that comes tomorrow to the Emirates and everybody that is watching and following us, brings that energy with them.”

History awaits. See you tonight

PS:

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