Mikel Arteta has outlined the methods he employs to drive Arsenal towards success, heavily influenced by knowledge drawn from elite coaches across rugby, basketball, and American football.
Arteta has built a network of expertise from leaders such as Scott Robertson of the All Blacks, Steve Kerr of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and NFL head coaches, all of whom inform his strategic vision for Arsenal.
![Jones, Kerr and McVay – Arteta’s elite network Gary Jacob McVay, is part of Arteta’s top circle Mikel Arteta has revealed he has been using the New Zealand rugby team to inspire Arsenal, with the help of some of the world’s best sports coaches. He invited Scott Robertson’s All Blacks to visit Arsenal’s training ground in London Colney, Hertfordshire, this week. Since becoming a coach, Arteta has logged into Zoom meetings to tap into the knowledge of some of the best high-performance coaches, including some from rugby, American football and basketball. They include Robertson; Eddie Jones, the former England and Australia head coach, who now coaches Japan; Steve Kerr, the NBA’s Golden State Warriors head coach and USA’s Olympic basketball team; the NFL head coaches Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur of Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers respectively; and Sandy Brondello, the Australian women’s basketball coach and head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty. After these discussions, Arteta began adopting similar terminology, such as calling substitutes “impact players”. One reason for him picking the brains of coaches outside football is that he feels he can be more open about the challenges without handing information to any potential rivals. Reading Legacy sparked his interest, a book which details 15 lessons in leadership written by James Kerr, who spent five months with the All Blacks squad, watching training and matches, and talking to managers, players and brand creators. Arteta then met Robertson through a mutual friend in Australia. “I have a good relationship with Razor [Robertson], he is an inspiration, such a character,” Arteta said. “I recommend Legacy to everybody. It talks about them, their culture, their winning mentality and how they approach sport, life and relationships. “It is really inspiring. It’s especially about the culture and the importance of clarity, or what it means when you put on a jersey. The sense of belonging. When somebody plays with that feeling, it elevates his level of commitment, it elevates his capacity to perform.” Despite not getting a chance to catch up this week after Arsenal’s trip to Preston in the Carabao Cup, others in the online chat have included Mike Dunlap, the basketball coach who worked with Michael Jordan, and George Karl, who is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “What I like the most is that you can talk openly with somebody that is doing a very similar job in terms of the demands that we all have,” Arteta said. “Somebody that is in your shoes daily and needs to make very similar calls, even if they are different sports.” He added that: “You can share things that, probably with a football coach in the league, you cannot.” It is not known whether these conversations have helped Arteta control his emotions on the touchline, for which he also uses meditation. Last season he was charged by the FA for improper conduct — and later cleared by an independent panel — after he branded the decision to award Newcastle United the only goal in a 1-0 loss at St James’ Park as “embarrassing” and “a disgrace”. Anthony Gordon’s goal came before three VAR checks for a foul, offside, and to see if the ball went out of play. Arteta admitted he has not rewatched the match before his side return to Newcastle on Saturday. “I didn’t want to go through that again.” ● Meanwhile, Arsenal Women will have a temporary head coach for all their games this month, their interim boss Renée Slegers has confirmed.](https://dailycannon.com/static/uploads/2024/11/241102-times-arteta-nz-rugby-e1730544505171.png "Mikel Arteta taps into global coaching elite to inspire Arsenal 1")
Recently, the All Blacks visited Arsenal’s training ground at London Colney, further strengthening the relationship Arteta has built with Robertson.
Arteta met Robertson through a mutual acquaintance in Australia and regards him as “an inspiration”, noting Robertson’s charismatic approach to leadership. The All Blacks’ emphasis on team culture, individual identity, and collective responsibility resonates strongly with Arteta’s aims at Arsenal.
“I have a good relationship with Razor [Robertson]. He is an inspiration, such a character,” said Arteta. Robertson’s influence is captured in the book ‘Legacy’ by James Kerr, which Arteta often recommends for its insight into high-performance culture.
“It talks about them, their culture, their winning mentality and how they approach sport, life, and relationships,” Arteta said. He has leveraged these principles to instil a deeper appreciation among Arsenal players for the significance of representing the club. “When somebody plays with that feeling, it elevates his level of commitment, it elevates his capacity to perform,” he added.
Since transitioning from player to coach, Arteta has sought perspectives beyond football’s traditional limits. His network includes Steve Kerr, Eddie Jones, former England rugby coach, and NFL figures such as Sean McVay and Matt LaFleur. According to Arteta, these connections provide critical insights, allowing discussions that are more candid than those he could have with direct footballing rivals.
“What I like the most is that you can talk openly with somebody that is doing a very similar job in terms of the demands that we all have,” Arteta said. “You can share things that, probably with a football coach in the league, you cannot.” This openness enables Arteta to apply diverse strategies while maintaining the confidentiality required within football.
Adopting new terminologies and concepts from other sports has also been part of Arteta’s evolution, such as describing substitutes as “impact players”. This terminology, borrowed from high-performance environments, highlights his commitment to adaptability—a key element as Arsenal continue to compete with Manchester City for Premier League dominance. Arteta’s regular meetings with coaches from rugby, basketball, and American football have granted him a broader tactical and leadership perspective, allowing for innovative approaches within football.
The All Blacks’ visit to Arsenal came at a hectic time, with the club also preparing for a midweek Carabao Cup fixture against Preston. Although Arteta was unable to spend as much time with the New Zealand squad as wanted, the event underscored his dedication to embedding diverse sporting philosophies into Arsenal’s culture.