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It seems that to compete at the top of the Premier League title race, your squad needs more than just a ball at their feet—they might need a pen in their hands, too.
Arsenal's Monday training session at London Colney drew plenty of attention thanks to a series of unconventional exercises—closer to relay races than traditional drills—that manager Mikel Arteta put his squad through.
The Gunners were split into groups of four, tasked with huddling together and wrapping their arms around one another to balance a soccer ball between their lowered foreheads. Once the ball was secured in place, the groups sprinted down the pitch in unison.
Next, the Gunners—still locked in their huddles—used their index fingers to keep a pen suspended in the air, forbidden from letting it fall. Meanwhile, they passed a ball between their feet while racing toward a trash can at the end of the field, where they had to flick the ball inside.
While the drills were likely designed to build team chemistry, concentration, and the ability to multitask, Arteta was deliberately vague when speaking to reporters following the session.
"I think a training session needs to incorporate different elements," he said. "And those elements have to be tied to the messages we send, the commitments and promises we've made to each other. I try to weave those messages and commitments into as many situations as I can, and training was one of those moments."
"That stays in the dressing room," Arteta added with a grin, when pushed further about the specific use of pens.
What's Next for Arteta, Arsenal?
Following a painful FA Cup exit on Saturday—a 2–1 defeat to Southampton—Arsenal are eager to bounce back quickly.
The Gunners head to Sporting CP on Tuesday for the opening leg of their Champions League quarterfinal, before hosting the Portuguese club at Emirates Stadium for the return fixture on April 15. Arsenal forward Viktor Gyökeres, who joined the club last summer for $74 million after netting 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP, will face his former team—and could be met with jeers from the home supporters at Estádio José Alvalade.
"He's very excited," Arteta said Monday. "He's full of gratitude for his time there—the way he speaks about the club, the players, the staff, and everyone involved. The experience he had and how significant that chapter of his career was.
"But now he's one of ours as we head into the Champions League quarterfinals. He's never competed at this stage of the tournament before."
Arsenal also welcome Bournemouth in a league fixture this Saturday, aiming to stretch their current nine-point advantage over Manchester City with seven matches still to play in the title race.