Mikel Arteta has wowed Graeme Souness after taking a replica of Highbury’s watch with Arsenal to Fulham. He wanted the Gunners to decorate the away dressing room.
Arsenal topped their London rivals 3-0 last week with goals from Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard. The result secured the Emirates Stadium side a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. But Souness questions Arteta’s antics to boost morale.
He daily mail reported after the Craven Cottage meeting that Arteta had asked Arsenal to decorate the away dressing room. He wanted the Gunners to take home comfort away from home as the north London natives seek their first top-flight title since the 2003/04 season.
Why did Arsenal bring a Highbury watch replica to Fulham?
The photos emerged after Arsenal beat Fulham of Arteta’s team huddled around a replica of the clock that became iconic at Highbury. Appeared in the Gunners’ former home for over 70 years. Arsenal also presented a larger replica at the Emirates over Clock End in 2010.
His surprise appearance at Fulham came as part of a broader attempt by Arteta to make the changing rooms feel more like Arsenal’s home. Five of the Gunners’ remaining 11 Premier League matches are away to the Emirates. They also visit Liverpool and Manchester City.
Thus, Arsenal also brought a team photo and club crest stickers to Fulham to decorate the away dressing room. It remains to be seen if Arteta asks the Gunners to replicate his inclusion in Liverpool on April 9. Arsenal visit title rival Manchester City on April 26.
Arteta blows Souness away with Gunners away locker room plans
Yet while Arsenal went on to win comfortably 3-0 at Fulham, Souness was stunned by Arteta’s plans to deck out the away dressing room with a replica Highbury watch and a team photo. He also remembers how Arteta tried to prepare the Gunners to visit Liverpool in November 2021.
“Really? Is this what the modern game has become? Souness asked in a column about the daily mail. “So Arsenal players arrive at Fulham to find their own clock on the wall along with their own photos and stickers?
“It is extremely rare and only a winning coach can get away with it. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is doing a good job but he has form for such nonsense.
“Last season he played ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ over the loudspeakers in training to prepare his players for a game at Anfield. They lost 4-0, so it went well for them.”
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