FOOTBALL – MIKEL Arteta once hired pickpockets to keep his Arsenal players alert. He has painted meeting rooms in colours designed to improve concentration and pipes opposition stadium anthems through speakers at the club’s training ground.
Leaving nothing to chance is the Arsenal manager’s philosophy and it helped deliver the club’s first Premier League title in 22 years last season.
So, a flight delay heading to their Champions League win at Napoli on Wednesday did not cause him a headache; nor will any unforeseen obstacles ahead of today’s trip to Sunderland.
“I love these challenges,” Arteta said yesterday. “I try to create them in pre-season and arrive at different times so when they happen we have already experienced it.
“You can miss a flight, the train can be delayed but I don’t want the players or staff to be panicking when it happens, instead adapt to it. But do not complain and use it as an excuse because it’s not helpful at all.”
The episode offered another example of why Arsenal are unlikely to be rattled by a Sunderland side to whom they surrendered points late last season.