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Arsenal: 3 non-football ways Mikel Arteta has been sensational

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal's Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta (C) gives instructions to Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah (L) and Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2L) on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta (C) gives instructions to Arsenal's English striker Eddie Nketiah (L) and Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2L) on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates Stadium in London on February 23, 2020. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mikel Arteta
(Photo by IAN KINGTON/IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images) /

1. He is honest

While Arteta is empathetic towards his players and those around him, and while he speaks clearly and concisely with inspiration, encouragement, and hope, ultimately, his best non-football quality is his honesty, especially in the demands that he has handed his players.

Much has been written of his ‘non-negotiables’, but his hardline approach in this manner has been integral to changing the energy around the team. The players knew what they had to do to impress Arteta, and Arteta inspired change in them, the team, and the culture around the club as a result.

He explained the benefits of this to Ian Wright as part of Adidas’ ‘I’m Going To Call You’ campaign:

"“When there is a lot of clarity in what they have to do and what we’re expecting from them, normally, there is not a clash because they know what we’re expecting so there is not a debate. It is very valuable for them to move forward and they say ‘I know what I have to do next time,’ so when you put that scenario again to them, they will have better tools to respond to that.”"

Next. Arsenal: 3 improvements Matteo Guendouzi must make to become world-class. dark

Arteta says it right: the players know whey they stand. And as you have seen in their response to his coaching, it has helped immensely. Arsenal are better for his honesty.

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