This season, Mikel Arteta has a history of rebounding strongly from defeats, but it was clear he was out of steam as he hobbled into the press conference after Arsenal’s 3-0 loss to Brighton. The glum-faced Spaniard cried out, effectively admitting the Premier League title fight was over, “I hate the feeling of letting people down.
Even Arteta, who has gained notoriety for his feisty demeanour on the sidelines this season, needed some time to recover from the wounds that such a lacklustre conclusion to such an unexpected campaign had caused. In the days that followed, he acknowledges that there was a tendency to keep his distance from everyone. At this moment, he needed the support of his loved ones to get out of his funk.
Before this Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest, he observed, “Sometimes you just go to bed and cover under the sheets for 12 hours and don’t speak to anybody.” You occasionally need your wife, kids, dog, and relatives close by.
“I have never received that many text messages after a game in the three years that I have been at the club. It was amazing. I believe I had 122 mails, all of which discussed our actions. They were pleading with us not to lose sight of what we had accomplished. That is helpful because it comes from friends, numerous coworkers, coaches, and other club members, and sometimes you need that as well as that helps you.
But even after raising himself, Arteta still had to lift his teammates. Being on the losing end of a title race may spell disaster for the Spanish player’s Arsenal project. If they respond favourably, they might win the Premier League the following season, as Liverpool did in 2020. However, if they respond poorly, the Gunners run the risk of going down the same road as their rivals in north London, Tottenham Hotspur, who have severely declined in recent years after being championship contenders themselves just six years ago.
The significance of Arsenal’s final two games cannot be overstated for this reason. People inside the club believe that the positive energy created after last season’s 5-1 thrashing of Everton on the last day was essential in generating the positive momentum that fueled this season’s title challenge. Arteta has enlisted a canine friend to guarantee that his side continues to bark up the right tree as he attempts to boost morale in the camp.
We frequently discuss family and connection, he said. “In my view, a large family, such as the one we have at the club—and I really believe we are a family—needs a dog to symbolise that family. I believe there are still things that can be done at the club to engage with members, to be more compassionate towards members, and to demonstrate love, and I discovered this dog who, in my opinion, was the ideal embodiment of where we are at the moment.
“Her name is Win; she needs a lot of love; we all enjoy winning. the affection for Win. That’s pretty much it. The players’ response has been amazing, and the staff has said that she will be travelling with us. Something that (clicks fingers) alters your emotions in such a way. She enters the building in this manner, showering everyone with love, and you can feel the atmosphere shift as the players on the floor simply embrace her. It is quite stunning to witness. It has a distinctive feeling. Those things are quite essential to me.
“Right now, we could use a little of this, but accountability is also required since we have to take care of her, her emotional needs, and her basic needs. It is a positive thing, in my opinion.
Over the past month, the word “win” has gained a lot of attention at Arsenal’s London Colney training facility. One of the numerous symbols Arteta has implanted to personify his lessons of love and cooperation is the chocolate Labrador’s contagious exuberance.
The 41-year-old’s workspace looks out over an olive tree that is 150 years old. “It is an olive tree that has 150 years, which is similar to the club,” he said. Every day, we must take care of those roots to prevent them from being poisoned, damaged, or failing to grow in the proper manner.
It’s believed that Arteta brought a small replica of this tree to team meetings to further emphasise his message that it’s important to take care of the fundamentals every day. The Spaniard has been open to experimenting with a number of unconventional management strategies while in command at the Emirates.
After being displayed in Amazon’s All or Nothing documentary series, many of these attracted scorn. The fact that his players believe in them, though, is what matters most to Arteta. They have played a significant role in boosting the mood in London Colney for the upcoming season and will be essential in ensuring that Arsenal chases the Premier League championship like a dog after a bone.