We tried innovative Arsenal-style technique in England training - with interesting results

Former England striker Michael Owen has come to the defence of Mikel Arteta's unconventional training ground methods. Arsenal dropped to second place in the Premier League on Wednesday evening following Manchester City's 1-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor, which saw the champions reclaim top spot.

Despite occupying first position for 200 days this season, Arteta's side could now be staring at a fourth consecutive runners-up finish. However, Arsenal remain level with City on 70 points and boast an identical goal difference of 37.

Everything remains up for grabs. However, the psychological ramifications of City's triumph could prove significant, an aspect of his players' development that Arteta pays particular attention to.

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While he has attracted scrutiny for his unorthodox training practices, dismissed by some as mere gimmicks, former Liverpool forward Owen has drawn comparisons between Arteta's progressive methods and those of former England manager Glenn Hoddle.

Hoddle famously brought spiritualist and faith healer Eileen Drewery into his squad during his tenure as Three Lions boss from 1996-99. The then-England manager described Drewery as "an extension of the new medical staff."

Owen has suggested the former Three Lions chief was ahead of his time regarding players' mental preparation, declining to criticise Arteta for adopting a similar philosophy.

Owen, who now represents Casino.org, a leading platform helping players find UK casino brands, told football.london: "I don't know, [Arteta's methods could be] hokum, maybe? Listen, it's always been the case. Nobody says anything if Arsenal are winning, but when they lose, then it's new-age sessions.

"I mean, going back through my career, we had all kinds that nobody either would know about or they would know about. I remember when I first got into the England team and Glenn Hoddle used a lady called Eileen Drewery.

"Everybody was laughing, and then everybody was like, 'Oh, my word, psychologists, how weak mentally must you have been?' Everybody was a laughing stock, and then all of a sudden, nowadays, if you mention psychologists, then it's just, every job and, 'I've got plenty of them'.

"Certainly, the press all laughed at it. Mikel Arteta's an exceptionally talented manager. He's obviously done a great job. Arsenal weren't doing so well when he took over. He's grabbed them by the collar, he came second in the league before and he's top of the league at the moment and in another semi-final of the Champions League."

"I'd be very hesitant to laugh at what he's doing. This is not an easy job to be a top Premier League manager, not an easy job and he's doing a serious, serious job.

"If they don't win it, they don't win it. He's probably going up against one of the greatest managers of all time. So I, for one, would not pass comment on anything on the training ground."

Arteta's processes have become the stuff of Premier League legend. The Spaniard famously brought a lightbulb into the dressing room, urging his players to radiate energy and illuminate the pitch with their performances.

The former Everton midfielder also enlisted professional pickpockets to gate-crash a team dinner, lifting phones and wallets from unsuspecting players to sharpen their awareness. In 2023, he introduced a dog named Win to the training ground in a bid to lift spirits.

Arteta further raised eyebrows by blasting 'You'll Never Walk Alone' through loudspeakers during a training session, attempting to mentally prepare his squad for the hostile atmosphere at Anfield ahead of a Liverpool fixture — a match they ultimately lost 4-0.

"Every game we use different themes to try to prepare the game in the best possible way and that depends on what we do," Arteta explained of his unconventional approach. "The best ones are the players' initiatives. That's the ones I love the most."

He'll now be banking on those same methods to galvanise Arsenal for the remaining five fixtures of the season, where the difference between delivering the club's first title since 2004 and once again finishing as runners-up could ultimately come down to mental fortitude.