Photo via BBC Sport

I disrupted pre-season travel plans to prepare players - Arteta

September 11, 2026 · BBC Sport

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed that his squad was fully equipped to handle a recent midweek travel setback in the Champions League. When the team experienced a delayed flight, the players remained unfazed due to calculated preparation months earlier. Arteta had intentionally introduced chaos into the squad's summer itinerary, tampering with their pre-season practice sessions and transit arrangements. This planned disruption was designed to build resilience and ensure the group could seamlessly cope with unexpected logistical hurdles.