"I love those challenges. I try to create them in pre-season!" Mikel Arteta said as he laid out the methods he uses to prepare Arsenal for disruption on the road. The club were due to fly out of Luton Airport at around 3pm UK time on Tuesday, but arrived in Napoli around three hours behind schedule.
Arteta's disruption drills
Arteta said he has used pre-season to delay meals, delay transport and take different routes. He also said he has made the dressing room hotter and reduced the number of massage beds. The point, as he explained it, is to stop players and staff panicking when normal routines disappear.
"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," Arteta told Sky Sports. "But don't complain or use it as an excuse because it's not helpful at all."
That line fits the way Arsenal are approaching this period. They have won 4 of their last 5 matches and sit top of the Premier League, so the message is not coming from a team in trouble. It is coming from a side being asked to stay sharp while things are going well.
Why the travel story fits Arteta's wider habits
This is also part of a pattern. Arteta previously asked Tom Allen to hire a pickpocket to steal from his own players during an evening meal. The players were disguised around a dinner where the pickpocket posed as a waiter, then Arteta revealed the stolen items in a team meeting. He also blasted out 'You'll Never Walk Alone' on loudspeakers during training before Arsenal played Liverpool at Anfield with fans back in the ground.
Arteta has made no secret of liking surprise and stress as a coaching tool. "When there's no element of surprise or stress on a matchday, I think it's important," he said. Arsenal's next away league trip is Brighton away on 2026-09-19 14:00:00+00, so the travel theme is not going away any time soon. The test now is whether those rehearsed inconveniences keep holding up when the fixtures keep coming.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
