Mikel Arteta: Arsenal manager says he deliberately sabotaged his team's travel plans to prepare for difficulties on the road

11 September 2026, 08:55 | Updated: 11 September 2026, 12:27

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he deliberately sabotaged the club's travel plans during pre-season - to get his players used to difficulties on the road.

Those sabotages include deliberately making his team late for matches by changing their route or meal times - as well as making the changing room hotter and reducing the number of massage beds.

The Premier League champions had travel concerns during their trip to face Napoli in the Champions League this midweek, caused by the Air Traffic Control crisis on Tuesday.

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