Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he deliberately puts his players through disrupted routines during pre-season so they can remain composed when unexpected problems arise on matchdays.

The approach was put to the test before Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Napoli, when air traffic control problems delayed the team’s arrival in Italy by about three hours.

According to Arteta, the situation did not become a major source of panic because his squad had already experienced similar disruptions during their pre-season preparations.

“I love those challenges, I try to create them in pre-season,” Arteta said at his news conference on September 11.

“So when they happen, we have already experienced them, and we are ready.”

Why Arteta Deliberately Disrupts Arsenal’s Routine

For Arteta, preparing a football team is not limited to tactical sessions and physical conditioning.

The Arsenal manager said he intentionally changes normal routines so his players and staff learn how to react when circumstances suddenly move beyond their control.

That can mean arriving at a stadium much later than planned or forcing the squad to adjust to an unfamiliar routine before a match.

Arteta explained that flights can be cancelled, trains can be delayed and traffic can interfere with carefully planned schedules. His objective is to ensure such situations do not create unnecessary anxiety within the team.

“When it happens, adapt to it,” he said.

The manager also encouraged his players to make productive use of unexpected delays rather than becoming frustrated by them.

If a journey leaves the squad with several hours on a plane, Arteta believes that time can still be used to rest, interact as a team or prepare mentally for the game.

His message is straightforward: disruption should be managed rather than treated as an excuse.

“But don’t complain or use it as an excuse because it’s not helpful at all.”

The Unusual Conditions Arsenal Players Face

Arteta’s preparation methods can go beyond simply changing travel arrangements.

The Spaniard said his exercises have included delaying meals, altering transport plans, taking different routes to stadiums and making dressing rooms hotter and less comfortable than usual.

The purpose, as described by Arteta, is to expose his players to inconvenience before it becomes a genuine matchday problem.

By experiencing uncomfortable situations in advance, the Arsenal squad can learn to adjust without allowing frustration to take over.

That philosophy also explains why the Napoli travel disruption was viewed differently from an entirely unfamiliar problem. The circumstances were unexpected, but the need to adapt was something the players had already practised.

Arteta Has Used Other Unconventional Methods

The travel exercises are only part of Arteta’s unusual approach to team preparation.

The Arsenal manager has previously introduced a number of unconventional ideas designed to communicate particular lessons to his squad.

On one occasion, he took a light bulb into the dressing room while encouraging his players to be energetic and shine.

He also once hired professional pickpockets to attend a team dinner and steal players’ phones and wallets as part of a lesson about remaining alert.

Another memorable example came in 2023, when Arteta brought a dog named Win to Arsenal’s training ground as a way of boosting morale and representing the squad as a family.

The manager has also welcomed ideas from members of his squad and staff.

In April, a fire was lit at Arsenal’s training ground before the team’s Champions League meeting with Sporting.

Taken together, the examples illustrate how Arteta has used unusual experiences to reinforce messages around concentration, togetherness, adaptability and mentality.

What Arteta’s Method Is Designed To Achieve

The common thread in Arteta’s comments is preparation for circumstances that cannot always be controlled.

A disrupted flight, delayed transport or an uncomfortable environment can potentially affect the mood of players and staff shortly before a match. Arteta’s approach is to expose the squad to controlled versions of those difficulties beforehand.

The idea is not to eliminate disruption, but to make the response to it more familiar.

For Arsenal, that means players are expected to adjust their routines without allowing frustration to affect their preparation.

The Napoli journey offered a practical example of the philosophy Arteta had been trying to instil during pre-season.

Do you think deliberately uncomfortable training situations can make a football team better prepared for unexpected matchday problems?

Arsenal Turn Attention To Sunderland

The focus now shifts back to the Premier League, with Arsenal scheduled to travel to Sunderland on Saturday.

The fixture comes as part of Matchday 4 of the Premier League, giving Arteta’s players another opportunity to put their preparation into practice.

Whether the circumstances around a match are routine or unexpectedly complicated, Arteta’s message to his squad remains the same: adapt to the situation, stay composed and avoid turning disruption into an excuse.

Premier League Matchday 4 Fixtures

Saturday, 12 September

• Liverpool vs Fulham — 3 p.m.
• Crystal Palace vs Ipswich Town — 3 p.m.
• Bournemouth vs Brentford — 3 p.m.
• Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest — 3 p.m.
• Chelsea vs Hull City — 3 p.m.
• Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton — 5:30 p.m.
• Sunderland vs Arsenal — 8 p.m.

Sunday, 13 September

• Coventry City vs Brighton — 2 p.m.
• Manchester United vs Manchester City — 4:30 p.m.

Monday, 14 September

• Leeds United vs Newcastle United — 8 p.m.

With Sunderland next on Arsenal’s schedule, Arteta’s unconventional preparation methods will continue to form part of the club’s broader effort to ensure unexpected circumstances do not derail the team’s matchday focus.