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Featured Image Credit: Image: Amazon Prime Video
Topics: Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Premier League, Leicester City
Josh Lawless
Topics: Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Premier League, Leicester City
Mikel Arteta called for his Arsenal squad to rub their palms together in an attempt to get "everyone with the same energy".
Arsenal's 2021/22 campaign has been captured by the cameras for the latest Amazon 'All or Nothing' documentary, with unprecedented behind-the-scenes access given.
The premiere was on Tuesday night in London and the first three episodes will drop on Thursday.
But already snippets have been shared online and one clip shows that Arteta wasn't lying when he says he has some "crazy ideas".
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Prior to a visit to Leicester City in October, Arteta encouraged his players to do something a little different while stood in a circle in the King Power Stadium away dressing room.
“We’re going to do something, guys," Arteta said.
"We’re going to get all the energy in this room together. If I tell you I want you to start with this (rubbing palms). I want you to close your eyes and I’m going to tell you what’s going to happen in the game.
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"And then you’re going to grab each other’s hands and we’re going to create energy in a bubble and play f****** there [pointing towards the pitch]. Close your eyes."
Although it was a unusual method, it appeared to do the trick as Arsenal claimed a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Gabriel Magalhaes and Emile Smith-Rowe in the first 20 minutes.
Afterwards, the routine was the talk of the town in the dressing room and ended up being joked about - with Arteta also seeing the funny side.
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"You win the game, it works. You don't win, that wouldn't work. It's like everything.
"Yeah the players responded to it. Then I had to hear that they were making jokes about it but in the moment it helped, they didn't expect it."
Another tidbit from the documentary include Arteta's team talk where he discusses the life-saving heart surgery he had when he was younger, using it as motivation for his players.
The Spaniard also blasted Liverpool's 'You'll Never Walk Alone' anthem over the speakers in training to prepare the squad for the Anfield atmosphere.
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Defender Cedric Soares says the idea was designed to "create a bit of chaos during training" - though it didn't quite work as Arsenal ended up being pumped 4-0.
Meanwhile former captain Granit Xhaka describes Arteta as "a freak in a positive way" for the meticulous managerial methods.