Mikel Arteta has garnered a reputation for employing out-of-the-box methods as a manager to get his ideas across to the Arsenal players, with a recent report from the Athletic adding to this perception.
The well-known publication revealed a story regarding the Spaniard and how he invited pickpockets to a team dinner last season to ensure his team remained on guard throughout the season.
The professional pickpockets were tasked with going around the room and stealing as many personal items from the players as possible. Once the meal was over, the manager stood up and asked the Arsenal men to empty their pockets.
When the players realized personal items had gone missing, the Spaniard let them in on the secret and passed on an important lesson: be alert and on guard at all times.
This method garnered polarizing reactions on social media, with some hailing the 42-year-old for this unique approach while others found it unnecessary. Nonetheless, the North London giants were defensively one of the most dominant teams in the world last season.
Unfortunately, that was not enough to see the Gunners win silverware as Saka and Co. finished behind Manchester City in the Premier League by two points while getting eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
Arsenal are gearing up for a third consecutive title challenge in what will be Mikel's sixth season in charge at the Emirates Stadium. The club's goal will be to get their hands on silverware, having won nothing since the Spaniard's FA Cup success in his debut season.
The English giants played Bundesliga champions Leverkusen on Wednesday, thrashing Xabi Alonso's men 4-1. This leaves the Gunners' with one more friendly -- Sunday's Emirates Cup against Lyon -- before they kick off their Premier League campaign against Wolves on August 17.
