Arsenal light training ground fire to inspire Arsenal players

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is understood for his revolutionary – typically unorthodox – strategies to inspire his players.

So when a fire was lit on the membership’s London Colney training ground earlier this week, it was assumed the Spaniard had pulled off one other of his tips.

But this time it was not Arteta who was behind the stunt, as others took it upon themselves to rouse the squad earlier than a defining week within the Spaniard’s tenure.

On Wednesday, they hosted Sporting within the Champions League and secured a spot within the semi-finals. Next up is a go to to Manchester City within the Premier League on Sunday – their closest challengers within the title race.

“Every game we use different themes to try to prepare the game in the best possible way and that depends on what we do,” stated Arteta.

“The best ones are the players’ initiatives. That’s the ones I love the most.”

Having final received a trophy in 2020 with the FA Cup, throughout Arteta’s first season in cost, and never being league champions for 22 years, the strain has intensified to ship success.

Before the midweek tie towards Sporting, Arteta requested his aspect to play with “pure fire” – although in the end, they limped to the semi-finals with a 0-0 draw.

“No fear, pure fire. That’s it,” he stated earlier than the sport.

“Pure fire, that’s what I want to see from the players, the people, myself.”