Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko has revealed the injury trick Mikel Arteta has played on rival managers in the Premier League.
Arteta has developed a reputation for unorthodox tactics and hired professional pickpockets to target his own players earlier this season, in an attempt to teach them a lesson that they must be alert at all times.
During the Amazon Prime documentary ‘All or Nothing’, Arteta was seen giving a bizarre team talk in which he used a lightbulb to motivate his players, making references to Thomas Edison, energy and electricity.
Arteta’s latest unusual antics have now been revealed by Zinchenko, who says the Spaniard ‘loves’ to play injury mind games with other managers.
‘I’ve seen Mikel Arteta tell injured players to come on the team bus and walk into the dressing room with their wash bag, to put the other manager off the scent,’ Zinchenko told The Athletic.
‘Arteta loves to play games with the opposition.’
Last month, Bukayo Saka seemed destined to miss out on the clash against Liverpool, with Arteta claiming he was ‘uncertain’ to play.
But Arteta ended up naming Saka in his XI and he scored after just nine minutes in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates.
‘I don’t want to make it easy for anyone,’ Arteta said after that match.
‘The opponent has to make sure they do their homework – like I have to.
‘When I know, I am not going to lie to you, I am not going to say, ‘He’s not fit’ and then I play him – I would never do that – but, if I am certain or I don’t want to tell you, I will keep you guessing.’
Despite Arteta’s attempts to fool rival managers, Arsenal currently sit fourth, nine points behind league leaders Liverpool after 11 games played.
The Gunners return to action on Saturday against Nottingham Forest, who have enjoyed a strong start to the season and find themselves fifth.
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