Two coaches from Arsenal have been out with the France rugby side as part of an initiative to learn from other sports but Mikel Arteta did not join them as he was in Florida on ‘another subject’.
According to a report in Le Parsien, Carlos Cuesta and Arsenal’s specialist in set pieces Nicolas Jover spent three days with the France national rugby team this week as they prepared for their game against Japan that takes place on Sunday, 20 November.
Le Parisien seem to imply that Arteta was also set to attend before a last minute change (more on that below), but they note that “the exchanges were rich between the staff.”
The invitation was in return for Arsenal hosting France coaches in London a few months ago.
“We received them for three days, Arteta was not there because he was in Florida for another subject,” France’s head coach Fabien Galthié said at a press conference on Friday.
“We have a partnership with Arsenal, which is first in the Premier League with a five-point lead and a team with an average age of 23.
“They don’t have the same issues as us at all, but it’s also very interesting to work with them.
“They observe us, we observe them, they criticize us, we criticize them in the positive sense of the term.
“It’s very rewarding in terms of feedback, vision,” he said before adding that staff from Lorient, 5th in Ligue 1, were also present this week.
“This is part of our mission and the meaning of our action which is to gather, federate, share,” he continued. “That helps too.
“It’s a great pleasure to work with other sports, our part of the staff also went to Florida for a week to visit (US sports) franchises.”
It’s not clear at this point what has taken Arteta to Florida. My first instinct was naturally to assume it has something to do with the Kroenkes. But while Stan Kroenke owns multiple American sports teams, none of them are based in Florida.
However, Arsenal have been heavily linked with Orlando City’s Facundo Torres. Talks for his transfer were supposed to have been put on hold while the player is at the World Cup, but that could just mean direct talks with the player.
Torres is said to be keen to join Arsenal and Edu is already supposed to have met with his agent.
The 22-year-old Uruguay international left-winger has 13 goals and 10 assists in 40 games this season.