Mikel Arteta’s drive for perfection at Arsenal is extending well beyond the training pitch — and it is coming at a significant cost for his players, who are spending thousands of pounds on matchdays to comply with one of his strictest rules.
Determined to end the club’s 22-year wait for a league title, Arteta has implemented a system that requires every member of the squad to report to Arsenal’s London Colney training ground ahead of both home and away matches, before travelling together to the stadium by coach.
The Spaniard’s decision is rooted in team cohesion, according to The Sun.
He believes arriving as a group fosters unity, keeps the focus on the collective rather than the individual, and allows staff to monitor players’ mood and body language in the hours leading up to kick-off.
It is a level of micro-management that typifies Arteta’s obsessive attention to detail and mirrors the culture-building methods used by Europe’s elite managers.
Unlike Chelsea, Tottenham or Crystal Palace, where players are permitted to drive directly to the stadium a few hours before games, Arsenal’s squad must first assemble 24 miles away at London Colney.
For players scattered across London and Hertfordshire, this has created an unexpected expense — a cottage industry of dedicated cab drivers ferrying them to and from matches.
Mikel Arteta is keen to foster unity at Arsenal as he looks to finally win the Premier League title
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Drivers are reportedly retained for the entire day, dropping players at the training ground, collecting their partners or families to deliver them to the Emirates, and then waiting until full-time to take everyone home.
Industry insiders say the cost can range from £700 to £1,000 per player per matchday, meaning some stars could be spending upwards of £20,000 per season on private transport just to stay within Arteta’s framework.
One driver told the newspaper: “For us it’s brilliant — we look forward to every game and hope we get the call.
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"The money for one day covers more than half our weekly target and it’s a pretty stress-free job.
"And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to be involved in football these days, even if it’s just driving players around?”
Arteta has been uncompromising about the policy since taking over from Unai Emery in 2019, though he briefly relaxed it early in his tenure.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang angered Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta when he turned up late to a north London derby clash with Tottenham
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That all changed when then-captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turn up late for a North London derby, with the Gabon international then offloaded as a result.
That incident reinforced his belief that discipline and routine are non-negotiable if Arsenal are to maintain the standards required to challenge for the Premier League.
Club sources confirmed that players always travel together to the Emirates on matchdays.
The approach is said to have been noticed elsewhere, with under-pressure Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim reportedly adopting a similar rule to encourage greater unity within his squad after a turbulent start to the season.
For Arteta, the additional cost and inconvenience are a small price to pay if it means his players remain focused, connected and mentally prepared.
As Arsenal continue their pursuit of a first title since the Invincibles of 2004, every detail, including how and when they arrive for work, is being treated as a potential edge.
Arsenal will face Man City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday
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Arsenal will be hoping to maintain their positive start to the season when they lock horns with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Sunday.
City haven't been their usual selves, having lost matches to Brighton and Tottenham already this term.
They have, however, started to bounce back with successive victories over Napoli and fierce rivals United.