Oleksandr Zinchenko shares cheeky tactic Mikel Arteta uses as part of last-minute matchday mind games

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Mikel Arteta doesn’t like to just mess with his own squad – but also the opposition on matchdays.

The Arsenal boss has become known for deploying unique methods to keep his stars on red alert.

Oleksandr Zinchenko recalled in the summer how the Spaniard had employed secret pickpockets for a team dinner in a bid to raise the awareness in the dressing room.

Meanwhile, Arteta once drafted in a professional freestyler disguised as a waiter to destroy the skilful Ukrainian to raise team morale.

It was a quirky tactic that left Zinchenko – dubbed as one of the most technically gifted players during his Manchester City days – in fits of laughter.

But the former Citizens left-back has now opened up on another wild approach Arteta uses, which is designed to frustrate and confuse Arsenal’s rivals.

Arteta has gained a reputation of being a manager that keeps secrets close to his chest when it comes to the availability of his players.

A long running joke on social media is Gooners not believing Arteta when he claims a player is a doubt to feature, before ultimately including them in his line-up.

And Zinchenko has revealed there is truth in that, with Arteta letting the opposition second guess whether their injured players are in contention to feature right up until the starting XI is released.

Writing in his autobiography, ‘Believe,’ the 27-year-old said: “[He] likes to play games with the opposition.

“I've seen him tell injured players to come on the team bus and walk into the dressing room with their wash bag, to put the other manager off the scent."

This was the case in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool last month at the Emirates, where he claimed Bukayo Saka was ‘very uncertain’ to play.

Saka subsequently started, and he broke the deadlock in the ninth minute after turning Andy Robertson inside out.

Addressing his previous choice of words in the post-match press conference, Arteta said: “I don't want to make it easy for anyone.

“The opponent has to work and think and prepare and make sure they do their homework like I have to.

“I wish I knew their starting XI, who is on the bench, but I don't. It is our job to guess and do the work we have to do.

“I will tell you everything but that has consequences. I need to be very careful because sometimes I can tell you a player is going to be a few weeks but is a few months.

“Sometimes I don't know if a player is going to be fit in two days' time or when the press conference is.

“When I know, I am not going to lie to you, I am not going to say ‘he's not fit’ and then I play him, I would never do that, but if I am certain or I don't want to tell you, I will keep you guessing.

“This is my job. But as well to keep all my guys, everyone alert as well, that is important.”

Another recent example of Arteta looking to play mind games with fans and rivals came amid Martin Odegaard’s injury in September.

After the Gunners midfielder picked up an ankle injury on international duty, Arsenal were unwilling to divulge the severity of his knock.

This led to Odegaard having a ball placed in front of his swollen ankle in the official team photo for the 2024/25 season.