Mikel Arteta's 'magic' football analogy gives special insight into underrated Arsenal philosophy

Mikel Arteta recently spoke at the Aleda Collective conference and told a story about a football and the value it holds in different environments. The analogy itself was one of the most thought-provoking monologues the Spaniard has produced during his time as Arsenal manager.

“A ball, you put one ball in a garage full of dust, that ball has zero value,” Arteta starts. “It's deflated, it's hiding, nobody uses it.

“If I put it here in Piccadilly Circus, surrounded by kids, and I throw a ball, in 10 minutes I see a lot of joy, smiles, people playing, people sweating. If I put it somewhere in a village in Africa where they don't really have something to play with, and I throw it, I give hope.

“In my case, it was the tool that gave me the opportunity to dream and fulfil a life that has been full of experiences. To travel the world, to meet some fascinating people, to learn different languages, to live in different cultures, to transform people's lives, and to give me the joy of my life.

“That actually was to meet my wife, to start to create a family, and that's the magic of it. That's the magic, in my opinion, the joy of my life, it was given by a football. It can change in one second the emotional state of a country. Yeah, that's right. Wow, that's the beauty of it.”

Football is undoubtedly a sport that brings joy, and of course, emotions at the other end of the spectrum. But from an Arsenal perspective, and in particular the phrase “actions speak louder than words,” this is not just a thought for Arteta.

His arrival at Arsenal and the implementation of a culture which had sadly been lost prior to his arrival is one of the biggest factors in the club’s return to the competitive elite. While trophies still elude the club, they are regularly considered one of the favourites now for every competition they enter.

You would be brave to bet against the idea that Arsenal are only a matter of time away from lifting their dream accolades. But it is not just about the work with the football itself, but everything around that.

football.londonunderstands and has reported on the “One Club” philosophy adopted by Arteta and those at the club. The men’s and women’s teams interact; the youth teams are often given the chance to train with the senior setups. There is a real emphasis on working with the players and their families away from the pitch.

Win the dog might seem like a gimmick to some, but Arteta has shown himself willing to incorporate new ideas and theories into making Arsenal not just a great club from a footballing point of view but also a human one. This analogy he uses captures that perfectly.

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