Oleksandr Zinchenko shares the cheeky tactic Mikel Arteta uses as part of late-day mind games
Mikel Arteta does not like to mess only with his own team, but also with his rival on match days.
He Arsenal The boss has become known for implementing unique methods to keep his stars on red alert.
Oleksandr Zinchenko recalled in the summer how the Spaniard had used secrets pickpockets for a team dinner in an attempt to raise awareness in the locker room.
Meanwhile, Arteta once recruited in a professional freestyler disguised as a waiter to destroy the skilled Ukrainian and raise the team's morale.
It was a peculiar tactic that left Zinchenko – known as one of the more technically gifted players during his days at Manchester City, laughing.
But the former Citizens left-back has now opened himself up to another wild approach. arteta uses, which is designed to frustrate and confuse Arsenal's rivals.
Arteta has earned a reputation as a coach who keeps secrets when it comes to his players' availability.
A long-running joke on social media is that the Gooners do not believe Arteta when he claims that it is doubtful a player will feature, before finally including him in their line-up.
AND Zinchenko has revealed there is truth to that as Arteta left the opposition to guess whether his injured players are in the running to feature until the starting XI is released.
In his autobiography, 'Believe', the 27-year-old said: “He likes to play with the opposition.
“I've seen him tell injured players to get on the team bus and go into the locker room with their toiletry bag, to throw the other coach off.”
This was the case in Arsenal's 2-2 draw against Liverpool last month at the Emirates, where he claimed Bukayo Saka was “very unsure” about playing.
3
Saka then started and broke the deadlock in the ninth minute after turning over Andy Robertson.
Referring to his earlier words in the post-match press conference, Arteta said: “I don't want to make it easy for anyone.
“The opponent has to work, think, prepare and make sure they do their homework like me.
“I would like to know their starting eleven, who is on the bench, but I don't know. Our job is to guess and do the job we have to do.
“I will tell you everything, but that has consequences. I have to be very careful because sometimes I can tell you that a player is going to be there for a few weeks but it is only a few months.
“Sometimes I don't know if a player is going to be ready in two days or when the press conference will be.
3
“When I know, I'm not going to lie to you, I'm not going to say 'he's not fit' and then play it, I would never do that, but whether I'm sure or I don't want to tell you, I'll keep you guessing.
“This is my job. But besides keeping all my guys, everyone on their toes, that's important.”
Another recent example of Arteta looking to play mind games with fans and rivals came amid Martin Odegaard's injury in September.
After the Gunners midfielder injured his ankle on international duty, Arsenal did not want to divulge the severity of his knock.
This led Odegaard to have a ball placed in front of your swollen ankle in the official team photo for the 2024/25 season.
