Arteta admits meditation helps slow down 100mph brain as he eyes Arsenal success

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Arteta admits meditation helps slow down 100mph brain as he eyes Arsenal success
Arteta admits meditation helps slow down 100mph brain as he eyes Arsenal success

Mikel Arteta has revealed he uses mediation to get himself ready for games.

‌Arteta has gained a reputation for being one of the most intense and temperamental managers on the touchline during the heat of battle.‌ But Arteta likes to calm himself down as part of his pre-match preparation as he admitted the “rollercoaster” of emotions can have a big impact on managers.

‌You can be certain that he will be pumped for Arsenal ’s visit to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night with the pressure on the Gunners to win and send out a statement in the title race.

‌Gunners boss Arteta is not the only manager to use meditation to get himself in the right mindset for games as Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel said during his time in charge at Chelsea that he also uses the technique.

‌Arteta said: “I think it is very necessary. Every day you need to have moments. I have moments during my day when I do certain things to bring everything down. Your brain goes 100mph and you cannot see the picture with clarity — you need to bring it down sometimes.

Mikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured eiqeeiqteiqqzinvMikel Arteta's dream Arsenal line up as last-gasp January transfers are secured

"There are ways to do it — your family, sometimes meditation, sometimes sport is a great way to put those things away, talking to people. There are a lot of things that you need. You need holidays, days off, stay away from your phone at times. A lot of things that are needed and very very healthy. But the temptation is always to do more.

‌“I would do meditation in the afternoon, yes. Reading. I love reading, sitting there and reading about a topic that can inspire you to prepare for a game or develop a thought that you have on the day. It is something very good.”

‌Arteta has got himself into trouble on the touchline for being too excitable with officials and has already served a one game ban this season.‌ The Spaniard used to watch Arsene Wenger work when he played under him at Arsenal and the job has arguably got more demanding.

Arteta admits meditation helps slow down 100mph brain as he eyes Arsenal successMikel Arteta is often an intense character on the touchline

‌Arteta is driven by detail, obsessed by stats and preparation which means he finds it difficult to switch off. Reading and meditation are his way of making sure he is in a good place mentally.

‌Arteta added: “I used to speak with Arsene and he took his job like we all do, we put so many hours and ours lives to it and all the energy. It is extremely demanding, I love it and I am young and have a lot of energy.

‌“But it is a daily challenge. Every day there is a rollercoaster of things you have to go through. Emotions. You have to try to inspire people, to impact people, sometimes to calm down people, to motivate people, you have to deal with a lot of things you cannot control.

‌“On top of that, there are opponents, results and a lot of things that are difficult to manage on a daily basis. But I think overall there is something: how much we love the game, the passion we have for what we do and actually when you have an emotional relationship with a club, that is where the energy source comes from.

‌“You wake up every day and you want to face that challenge, be better and be more competitive. It is a lot every single day. It is a lot. That is why you need a lot of good people around you to support you.”

John Cross

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