Mikel Arteta says playing Samba music during training can “trigger” something in Arsenal players this season
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MIKEL ARTETA is willing to try anything to gain an extra inch in his pursuit of silverware. The Arsenal manager’s latest out-of-the-box thinking involves transforming the dreary weather of London Colney into a sun-kissed Samba Boys beach through the medium of MUSIC.
![[Arsenal's Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber training.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/l-r-declan-rice-jurrien-965594303_281902.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Ahead of their penultimate Champions League group phase match against Dinamo Zagreb tomorrow tonight, Arteta’s injury-plagued Gunners squad trudged out for training in chilly conditions at their North London base. But their moods were instantly lifted by a popular Brazilian tune blasting through several speakers around the pitches as they started their warm-up – the song in question being Mais Que Nada by Sergio Mendes.
![[Mikel Arteta and Eduardo da Silva at Arsenal training.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/r-arsenal-manager-mikel-arteta-965592973.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
A beaming Arteta was clearly enjoying its impact, getting involved in the Rondo's with his players to a soundtrack most people associate with Samba legends Ronaldinho and Kaka. And Arteta explained: “It's something we've been doing for many years now.
“And as part of training we use music as another element of our sessions to build the energy, to change some purposes that we want in the training session and I think the players enjoy it. “It depends on the drill, depends on the day. Some players pick the first song, the first two songs, the last song. It's definitely interesting.”.
Arsenal and Arteta are in dire need of a mood change after a gruelling month that has seen them crash out of the FA Cup to Manchester United in the third round on penalties and lose the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final 2-0 at home to Newcastle.
