Arsenal star reveals the weird technique Mikel Arteta used to persuade him to signal final summer time

Mikel Arteta persuaded considered one of Arsenal‘s new signings to affix the membership final summer time through the use of a really weird technique, it has been revealed.

Throughout his tenure as Arsenal supervisor, Arteta has been identified to implement distinctive or unorthodox methods in an effort to get the most effective out of his gamers, having as soon as employed pickpockets to advertise situational consciousness.

His weird strategies additionally embrace bringing a canine named ‘Win’ into the Gunners’ coaching floor and planting a 150-year-old olive tree to characterize development and resilience.

Though the Premier League title nonetheless eludes Arteta, the 42-year-old head coach has actually succeeded at bettering gamers for the reason that begin of his tenure in 2019 — and has additionally performed a superb job convincing high gamers to signal for the membership and be a part of his Gunners challenge.

Final summer time’s £42million signing Riccardo Calafiori has shared how Arteta managed to steer him to affix the membership final July from Serie A outfit Bologna.

When requested to elucidate why he joined Arsenal final summer time, the defender instructed Italian outlet Rivista Undici e Cronache: ‘The very first thing that involves thoughts is the organisation. How a lot they care about every participant from each perspective, each on the pitch and particularly off the pitch.

‘As for Arteta, I used to be instantly struck by how a lot he cared about attending to know me. Sooner or later on the cellphone he despatched me some pictures of my household and requested me to say what every member of the household meant to me.

‘Nothing like this had ever occurred to me earlier than, I’m not saying that he satisfied me with this alone, nevertheless it actually represented an vital second.’

Though Calafiori has endured a season considerably blighted by accidents, the left-back has nonetheless performed a key position for Arsenal in 26 matches throughout all competitions, sharing the place with breakthrough star Myles Lewis-Skelly and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Calafiori’s spotlight second of the season got here when he scored a shocking equaliser in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, serving to the Gunners to a 2-2 draw on the Etihad.

Regardless of that includes primarily at left-back this marketing campaign, the Italian was introduced in as a flexible defender to additionally function at centre-half.

The 22-year-old heaped reward on Arteta for serving to to develop his sport, together with Italy supervisor Luciano Spalletti and his previous Bologna boss Thiago Motta.

He added: ‘Thiago Motta after which Spalletti and Arteta modified me lots, when it comes to imaginative and prescient of the sport, areas to occupy, all the things.

‘However I additionally assume that there are numerous defenders with higher traits than me, that’s why I work a lot off the pitch and possibly that makes the distinction.

‘There are various issues that I nonetheless don’t know tips on how to do. Amongst these is the will to study to play in as many roles as potential.

‘For now, I really feel like I understand how to play two, I’d additionally prefer to study a 3rd: midfielder. It’s a position that has all the time fascinated me.’