Some of the methods deployed by Mikel Arteta on Arsenal's training ground have been widely ridiculed since being shown in Amazon's latest 'All or Nothing' series.
However, the Spaniard went for the tried and tested method of attacking the players' pride in a bid to motivate them once he returned from a brief spell away from the training ground as he recovered from Covid-19. Once healthy and clear to come back, Arteta went straight for the jugular as he lambasted the decline in standards while he was away.
Whether it was known to the Gunners players or not, their every step on the London Colney training pitches was being filmed for Arteta's viewing - and he was not pleased with what he saw. "There are a few players who train exceptionally well," he told his players, who looked rather sheepish by this point.
"There is the vast majority of players, who train well. And there is a group of players, who just come. The training session on Sunday, if I was here, four go out of the session. Four players after 15 minutes. Gone," the Spaniard continued to a squad now sat in total silence.
"We are not training in the park. We are not in nursery. And we are not here wasting our time. Too many players laughing. And the other thing is, complaining.
"Someone gives a bad pass… complaining. I give a bad pass… it's his mistake. No! We have to raise the level and it goes for everyone. Every single one, because now is in or out. So, every f***ing day in training, every single ball."
HAVE YOUR SAY! Where will Arsenal finish this season? Comment below
During Arteta's unexpected spell away from his post, the Gunners welcomed Manchester City to the Emirates on New Year's Day. A club that the Arsenal boss knows all too well from his time as Pep Guardiola's assistant, Arteta issued a motivating, foul-mouthed rallying cry ahead of the clash.
"When we were at the Emirates, remember what they did...three-nil down and with 10 players and they went f***ing putting [Riyad] Mahrez and [Raheem] Sterling on the pitch to humiliate you.
"Let's f***ing go for it, guys. We are a completely different team and to go from the first minute, think forward, act forward and play forward… every f***ing one of you. I am proud of you. Let's go out there and win this f***ing match."
Arsenal's players carried their manager's words with them and came agonisingly close to a result, but City midfielder Rodri poked home from close range in the third minute of second-half stoppage time to break Gunners hearts.
