Mikel Arteta Draws Inspiration from New Zealand's All Blacks to Boost Arsenal's Title Pursuit

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shared that he's looking to the world of rugby, particularly New Zealand’s renowned All Blacks team, to gain insights and enhance his squad's performance. Known for their dominance and strong cultural ethos, the All Blacks are admired by Arteta for their winning mentality and team values. Recently, while the All Blacks were in London preparing for a game against England at Twickenham, they visited Arsenal’s training ground and met captains Martin Odegaard and Kim Little. Arteta, though away for a Carabao Cup match, has expressed how he’s inspired by the All Blacks’ approach.

Speaking to reporters, Arteta noted, “I have a good relationship with Razor [Scott Robertson], their head coach. He’s such an inspiration. It’s especially about the culture and the importance of clarity—what it means to wear the jersey. That sense of belonging elevates commitment and performance.” Arteta also highlighted Legacy, a book by James Kerr that explores the All Blacks’ ethos, as a source of inspiration, saying it offers powerful lessons on “winning mentality and how they approach sport, life, and relationships.”

With Arsenal trailing Premier League leaders Manchester City by five points and Liverpool by four, Arteta is aware that his team must be at their best to close the gap. He’s keen to leverage any cultural and psychological edge as the season progresses, knowing they’ll need consistency and resilience to stay competitive.

Arsenal’s next Premier League fixture is against Newcastle at St. James’ Park. The Magpies, fresh off a Carabao Cup win over Chelsea, will be tough opponents, having bested Arsenal in two of their last three league encounters at home.