Mikel Arteta has tended to come out swinging after setbacks this season, but as he trudged into the press room following Arsenal's 3-0 defeat to Brighton, he appeared to have no fight left. "I hate the feeling of letting people down" the ashen-faced Spaniard exclaimed, all but conceding that the Premier League title race was over.
Arteta has become notorious for his scrappy personality on the sidelines this season, but even this touchline terrier needed some time to heal the wounds that such an uninspiring end to such an unexpected campaign had brought. He admits that there was a temptation to hide himself away from everyone in the days that followed. At this point the help of those closest to him was crucial to lifting him out of the slump.
“Sometimes you go in bed and just cover under the sheets for 12 hours and don’t speak to anybody," he said ahead of this Saturday's clash with Nottingham Forest. “Sometimes you need your wife and kids around you, your dog, and your family.
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“In the three years I have been at the club I have never had that many text messages after the game. It was incredible. I think it was 122 messages I had – all talking about what we have done. They were saying ‘please don’t lose perspective on what you guys have done’. That helps because it comes from friends, a lot of colleagues, coaches as well, a lot of people at the club, and sometimes that helps you as well as sometimes you need that."
Having lifted himself though, Arteta still had the task of lifting his players. Being on the losing side of a title race has the potential to be a sliding doors moment for the Spaniard's project at Arsenal. React positively and they could go on to win next season's Premier League, as Liverpool did in 2020. React poorly though, and the Gunners risk following the same path as their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur who have fallen away drastically in recent years since challenging for the title themselves just six years ago.
It is for this reason that the importance of Arsenal's remaining two games cannot be understated. There is a feeling among those in the club that the positive atmosphere generated in last season's final day 5-1 hammering of Everton was key to creating the positive momentum that fuelled this season's title push. As Arteta seeks to raise spirits in the camp, he has enlisted the help of a four-legged friend to ensure his side continue to bark up the right tree.
“We always talk about family and being connected," he said. "In my opinion a big family like we are at the club, which I feel we are a family, you need a dog to represent that family. I think there are still things at the club that can be done to connect with people, to be more caring with people, to show love, and I found this dog that in my opinion was the perfect representative of who we are right now.
"Her name is Win, we all love winning, and Win needs a lot of love. So the love for Win. That is basically it. So the reaction of the players has been incredible, the staff, she is one of us and will be on the journey together. Something that changes your mood (clicks fingers) like this. You come in the building like this and she is coming and giving all the love and suddenly you just feel the energy, the players on the floor just hugging her, it is just beautiful to watch. It is different feeling. For me those things are very important.
"At the moment we need a bit of this but needs accountability because we have to look after her as well, her emotional needs and what she needs. I think it is a good thing."
Win has become a prominent feature around Arsenal's London Colney training ground over the past month. The chocolate Labrador's infectious enthusiasm is one of the many symbols Arteta has instilled to personify his messages of unity and togetherness.
Another is a 150-year-old olive tree that the 41-year-old's office overlooks. "It is an olive tree that has 150 years which is similar to the club," he revealed. "We have to look after those roots every single day, make sure they don’t get poisoned and they don’t get damaged and remain in the right condition."
Arteta is understood to have brought a miniature version of this tree into team meetings to further preach his principles of ensuring the basics are looked after every day. It's one of several unorthodox managerial techniques that the Spaniard has been willing to try during his time in charge at the Emirates.
Many of these drew ridicule after they were exhibited in Amazon's All or Nothing documentary series. The most important thing as far as Arteta is concerned, however, is that his players buy into them. They have been key to raising spirits around London Colney next season, and will be crucial to ensuring that Arsenal pursue next season's Premier League title like a dog with a bone.
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