THE mighty All Blacks have played their part in Arsenal’s return to the summit of English football as Premier League title contenders.
Ahead of today’s crunch-clash with England at Twickenham, the New Zealand rugby union team prepared by using the Gunners’ London Colney training facilities on Wednesday.
Boss Mikel Arteta was hoping to spend some time with their coach Scott Robertson — nicknamed ‘Razor’ — only to miss out due to Arsenal’s Carabao Cup fourth-round tie away at Preston.
Arteta and Robertson formed a close bond over the years after sharing ideas and philosophies in an international group of coaches who chat regularly in person and on Zoom calls.
That group also includes Green Bay Packers chief Matt LaFleur, NBA hall-of-famer George Karl, basketball coach Mike Dunlap and former Red Roses head coach Eddie Jones.
Aussie Jones — who is now in charge of Japan’s national rugby team — likened the collection of elite managers and their swapping of ideas to ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’.
And Arteta said of Razor and his three-time world champion All Blacks side: “He’s an inspiration, such a character. I had the chance to meet him and we are in one of the groups together.
“It was a shame that the day that we were leaving for Preston when they were coming.
“I read a great book. I recommend it to everybody, called Legacy.
“It talks about the All Blacks and their culture and their winning mentality and how they approach sport, life, and relationships.
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“It’s especially about the importance of clarity, or what it means when you put on a jersey. The sense of belonging to something.
“When somebody plays with that feeling, it elevates his level of commitment, it elevates his capacity to perform and impacts the organisation in a different way.”
Arteta often cites Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as a mentor, but their relationship has changed over the last few years due to Arsenal’s title rivalry with the Citizens.
So, Razor has been a go-to sounding board — a man known for thinking outside the box, including breakdancing on the pitch for his players after winning trophies.
Arteta has gone down a different route, with unusual pre-match motivational tools such as squeezing lemons, blaring club anthems from speakers during training sessions and hiring undercover pickpockets and freestylers.
The Spaniard added: “What I like the most is that you can talk openly with somebody who is doing a very similar job in terms of the demands that we all have.
“But, there is no competitive approach there and you can really be transparent and honest and share things that probably with a football coach that is playing in the league, you cannot do.
“That’s a really good thing because somebody that is in your shoes daily, needs to make very similar calls even if they are different sports. So, it’s great to have that option.”
Arteta will be relying on those tricks of the trade as Arsenal travel to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle in today’s early kick-off knowing there can be no more title race slip-ups.
Arsenal ratings vs Preston
ARSENAL cruised through their Carabao Cup tie at Preston.
The Gunners won 3-0 to set up a home tie against Crystal Palace in the next round.
Sun Sport’s Sam Dymond reveals who has done enough to feature in the quarter final – and who might be a bit worried.
Tommy Setford – 6
A clean sheet on debut for the teenager. After a quiet first half, he looked nervous when put under pressure by Preston’s forward.
Jurrien Timber – 7
Really looking the part in the Arsenal defence after injury. His crosses caused chaos before being replaced at half-time
William Saliba – 7
Settled back into the side after suspension, and was rarely troubled on a night where he continually swept up possession.
Jakub Kiwior – 8
Partnered Saliba admirably in defence, but showed his attacking worth by providing two assists.
Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7
A solid display before his removal on the hour, perhaps with one eye on the weekend.
Jorginho – 7
Kept things moving in midfield, and even showed off some sublime skill when the opportunity arose.
Mikel Merino – 7
A much more confident performance from the Spaniard following his goal on Sunday. Combined well with Martinelli and Nwaneri during the opening 45 minutes.
Ethan Nwaneri – 9
Serenaded by the Arsenal fans as ‘one of their own’, this talented teenager once again excited Gooners everywhere.
The scorer of one sublime strike, he came so close to bagging a second goal too.
Raheem Sterling – 7
The Carabao Cup king did everything but score. Perhaps let down by his decision making, he’s looking more at home at Arsenal than he ever did at Chelsea.
Gabriel Jesus – 8
Constantly alive to the ball inside the box, he was rewarded with a first goal since January to get the scoring underway.
Gabriel Martinelli – 8
Often Arsenal’s biggest attacking threat with his direct running and ability to beat defenders. Replaced after taking a couple of heavy knocks.
Subs
Thomas Partey – 6
Replaced Timber at the break and once again did the job asked of him with few complaints.
Kai Havertz – 8
Scored a superb header shortly after his arrival as a half-time sub, and was an imposing figure in both penalty areas.
Bukayo Saka – 6
More minutes in the legs for the Arsenal star as he continues the recovery from his hamstring injury.
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6
Misplaced a couple of passes after his introduction, but fits in well among the first-team squad.
Ayden Heaven – 6
Offered a glimpse of genuine pace as he made his senior debut for the final ten minutes.
Three red cards in their opening eight Premier League outings have cost them seven points already, leaving them five points off the pace-setters and reigning champions City.
Arsenal return to the ground that ultimately cost them the title last season thanks to Anthony Gordon’s controversial winner in a heated 1-0 defeat.
They eventually finished the campaign two points off Guardiola’s winners on the final day.
Arteta was charged by the FA but found not guilty by an independent regulatory commission for calling officials “embarrassing” and a “disgrace” for passing on three VAR checks on Gordon’s goal — including an offside call, a foul and the ball being out of play.
The showdown itself was also close to boiling over after Kai Havertz’s rash lunge on Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes’ elbow on Jorginho.
However, Arteta says his squad have become more emotionally “evolved” and “controlled” since then.
He added: “The players have a memory of all the games that they play when there are certain situations in specific moments as an individual or a collective at certain grounds.
“You relate that particular moment, or that smell, or that visual, with something that happened to you or the team. That’s inevitable.”
Defenders Gabriel [knee] and Jurrien Timber [muscular] are expected to be fit after hobbling off during last weekend’s 2-2 draw with title rivals Liverpool.
But skipper Martin Odegaard, with an ankle knock, and Riccardo Calafiori, suffering from a knee problem, remain out.
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