Journalist explains unusual Mikel Arteta request after Arsenal train at Emirates

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Arsenal did not have a fixture weekend following their elimination from the FA Cup, and took the opportunity for further practice in training.

In a somewhat unusual step, Mikel Arteta’s squad trained on the pitch at the Emirates Stadium, rather than at London Colney.

Arsenal’s next fixture is away at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, and the squad will be fresh from their 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace after the winter break.

With Thomas Partey also coming back from injury, Arteta has had his squad boosted, well rested and ready to step up their form in the second half of the season, and it seems he has another trick up his sleeve with regard to his side’s training routines.

The reason why Arsenal trained at the Emirates Stadium

Speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Charles Watts explained why Mikel Arteta preferred to bring the squad to the Emirates for a training session this weekend.

“The players enjoyed a training session – Mikel likes to do that every so often,” Watts stated.

“I think the fact they haven’t got a game this weekend meant that he decided to switched venues for training to break things up a little bit, so it’s not permanently London Colney every single day and get a different vibe for the players.

“As far as I’m aware the players always like it when they go over and train at the Emirates.”

Arteta’s different training setups

Arteta attracted criticism in the past after playing Liverpool’s ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ anthem during training, but it is clear that he values different methods and setups for his squad during practice.

Training at the Emirates allowed his players to practice on the exact pitch they will play on next week as they take on Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool for the final time, with Arteta hoping to secure another vital win over the German.

Arsenal also used a mixture of Premier League and Champions League balls in their session, and whilst it is debatable whether or not this has any psychological benefit, it perhaps shows that Arteta is keen to make his players more comfortable in high-pressure surroundings ahead of the second half of the season.

Although they have had a quiet January, February will be the opposite for Arsenal as they take on Liverpool, West Ham, Burnley, Newcastle and face a trip to Porto in the Champions League round of 16.