Mikel Arteta has encouraged a suggestion from a fan about a potential new display inside Arsenal’s training ground.
The Spaniard has overseen the Gunners’ rise from mid-table mediocrity to perennial Premier League title challengers over the last five years.
However, his impressive work hasn’t just been limited to what he’s done on the pitch.
Arteta has implemented a number of fan-led initiatives to cultivate a more intimate culture around Arsenal, including certain ploys to improve the atmosphere at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta wants to create a display representing all Arsenal nationalities at Sobha Realty
Arsenal signed Piero Hincapie on deadline day from Bayer Leverkusen.
Although the defender has spent the majority of his time in North London so far on the sidelines with a groin injury, he did make his debut with a one-minute cameo off the bench against Athletic Club in September.
In the process, Hincapie became the first Ecuadorian to represent Arsenal. Ecuador subsequently became the 65th nationality represented on the pitch at the North London club.
In an interview with Arteta for Sky Sports, a fan posited that the manager create a wall displaying every country that has been represented at the Gunners’ training ground.
The head coach replied by insisting that this was a beautiful idea, and that he’d take steps to make it happen.
“The club has always been a cosmopolitan club for players and fans. It would be so good to have a wall at Sobha Realty Training Centre displaying all the countries that have been represented over the years. Would you consider putting that in place?” the fan asked.
“100%,” Arteta responded.
“What a beautiful idea. And if we can, let’s do it, because I think it will be a great representation of what our football club stands for.”
What Mikel Arteta said about Arsenal fans supporting all over the world
As well as having a diverse set of players from all over the world, the Gunners have one of the most multi-cultural fanbases on the planet.
Supporters from across the globe are fanatic about Arsenal, with large groups of fans based across Africa, Asia and North America, as well as in London and the UK.
Speaking on this, Arteta revealed that he feels a sense of pride about this widespread supporter base.
“I think that shows you the opportunity that we have in our jobs to impact people really in various ways,” he said.
“We have to be very conscious of that, because that’s all around the world, from different experiences, and all these people from different countries are connecting to other people and other countries, and that’s beautiful.
“I learned so much. It’s part of the culture here, is just to to pick things from other cultures to learn, to understand people because all those people have been raised in a different way, educated in a different way, with different values and sometimes we are a bit tunnel visioned with what we’ve been set is the right thing.”
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