Bukayo Saka has opened up about the challenges he faces during Arsenal training, particularly when dealing with his teammate Thomas Partey.
Arsenal’s training sessions are known for their intensity, a crucial element as they push themselves to new limits to overcome Manchester City and secure the elusive Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta’s creative training methods
Mikel Arteta has played a pivotal role in transforming Arsenal from a team seemingly in disarray to one that consistently challenges for trophies. A significant part of this transformation is attributed to his creative training methods. While the intensity of training helps build physical and mental toughness, Arteta emphasises the importance of mental readiness, which is distinct from mental toughness.
Arteta is known for putting things into perspective for his players, using various scenarios to draw comparisons and convey important lessons. For instance, he once hired pickpockets to steal the players’ wallets, using the experience to teach them the importance of always being alert. In another instance, he brought a 150-year-old olive tree to the training ground to symbolise gradual improvement and the importance of trusting the process.
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These methods may seem unusual at first, but Pep Guardiola has demonstrated the significance of mentality in football. The current Manchester City team has developed a strong belief in their identity as winners, which has played a crucial role in their recent success. Arteta aims to instill a similar mentality in his Arsenal squad, ready to use any means necessary to achieve that goal.
Bukayo Saka’s troubles with Thomas Partey
However, the intensity of training can sometimes have drawbacks, with players becoming more aggressive and challenges becoming heavier. Saka has experienced this aggression firsthand, particularly when going up against Partey in training.
Adrien Clarke, a pundit, recently shared what Saka had told him about training sessions at Arsenal:
“They were basically saying to me that it is brutal. They don’t kick lumps out of each other, but it is as forceful as it can be. So I said, who is the worst? All of them at the same time said it was Thomas Partey, which I thought was really interesting. Yeah, Bukayo said he’s always coming for him in training.”
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Aggression during training sessions should be controlled, and it’s imperative that Saka is protected, especially considering the significant amount of game time he receives and his importance to the team. The last thing Arsenal needs is their star man getting injured during training.
