Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he no longer refers to the players on his bench as substitutes – he has a brand new name for them.
The Spaniard has changed a lot of things since he was appointed as our boss. From getting rid of problematic players and giving youngsters an opportunity to changing the designs at the Emirates and at London Colney to motivate the lads, he has done it all.
Now, he has added a new word to Arsenal’s vocabulary, and that seems to have already made a positive impact.
Why Pele Is Overrated.
Mikel Arteta has a new name for his Arsenal substitutes to change their mentality
At Arsenal, the players on the bench are no longer called substitutes, they are called ‘impactors’.
This is Arteta‘s brand new introduction at the Emirates in order to make the players who don’t start games feel more valuable and also instil a mentality that makes them want to come on and have a huge impact.
The Arsenal boss is involved in a group with numerous coaches from other sports. He revealed that he discussed this with them before introducing the name ‘impactors’ at Arsenal.
Arteta told Goal: “It’s something that we wanted to change. I discussed it with a few people. People around other sports and football and then we discussed it with the team.
“We wanted to find something that is particular to us. I think it was the best way to express how we feel about them [the substitutes] and how they have to feel towards the team, especially on matchday.
“I think the way we now describe it is more like we want. If you repeat it more and more and more and you discuss it more and more and more, it will be closer to that than just being a sub.”
Positive impact
Things like this may seem silly to rival fans, but it has well and truly transformed the mentality of the club. The latest addition to Arteta’s vocabulary has already had a huge impact at Arsenal.
Just a few weeks ago, Arsenal were 2-0 down to Bournemouth at home in a fixture that was completely in the Cherries’ hands at the 60th minute. Arteta’s ‘impactors’ then changed the game.
Substitute Emile Smith Rowe assisted Thomas Partey’s opening goal to bring us back into the game. Reiss Nelson and Ben White, who both came off the bench, combined for the equaliser, before the latter buried a 97th-minute winner with his weaker foot.
Say whatever you want about Arteta, he knows what makes this team tick. That’s why we are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
