Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly using a new 'psychological wheeze' to prepare his team for match disruptions. Arteta has revealed he occasionally turns up dressing-room thermostats, delays meal and transport times, or makes physio room massage beds "disappeared" to ensure his players are ready for any curveballs.
Arteta stated he loves these challenges and tries to create them in pre-season. This is so players and staff have already experienced such situations and know how to react if, for example, a flight is missed or a train is delayed due to traffic.
This approach comes after Arsenal's flight to Naples this week was delayed by several hours, resulting in the cancellation of their pre-match press duties. The flight delay was one of several hundred from UK airports disrupted or cancelled due to an air traffic control "glitch".