Rancak Media – Granit Xhaka vividly recounts the unforgettable moment Mikel Arteta arrived as Arsenal’s new manager, a day he vows he will never forget. Arteta’s appointment in December 2019 marked a pivotal turning point, and Xhaka, who had been with the Gunners since the 2016/2017 season, recalls the Spanish coach’s unconventional yet impactful way of illustrating the club’s disarray using a room full of scattered chairs.
“I will never forget Mikel’s first day,” Xhaka told The Athletic. “At the training ground, we have a large room with several chairs, but they were all over the place — a complete mess.” He then gathered everyone working at the facility into this room, declaring: “‘Friends, from the outside, this is how you look. A mess.'” In a powerful symbolic gesture, everyone present then picked up a chair and placed it correctly. Arteta concluded, “‘I want you to be like this every day.'” This striking demonstration left a lasting impression, instantly conveying his high standards and vision for unity and order.
Following this pivotal moment, Arteta immediately began transforming the team’s mentality and the players’ training approach. Xhaka expressed profound admiration for the former assistant coach under Pep Guardiola. “You think ‘wow,’ he started with these standards — on day one,” Xhaka remarked. “After that, he built our mentality, the standards in training, pre-training, activation, and recovery.” He further emphasized, “He brought in people who work exceptionally well. It’s truly remarkable to work with him because he views football in a different way.”
Arsenal’s Victory over Slavia Prague in the 2025/26 Champions League Confirms Title-Winning Quality Across All Competitions
Beyond the initial impression, Arteta’s tenure brought tangible success to Arsenal. With Mikel Arteta at the helm, Granit Xhaka played a crucial role in securing the FA Cup in 2020. The 33-year-old midfielder also significantly contributed to Arsenal’s impressive run as a Premier League title contender during the 2022/2023 season, ultimately won by Manchester City.
Unique Facts About Max Dowman from Arsenal! Youngest Player in the Champions League, A Bold Move by Mikel Arteta
The player, currently serving as captain for Sunderland, is set to face his former club, Arsenal, this Sunday, November 9th. His performance in that highly anticipated match will undoubtedly be one to watch.
Summary
Granit Xhaka vividly recalls Mikel Arteta’s arrival as Arsenal manager in December 2019, marking a pivotal turning point for the club. Arteta demonstrated Arsenal’s disarray by showing a room full of scattered chairs to all staff, declaring, “Friends, from the outside, this is how you look. A mess.” He then had everyone correctly place a chair, stating, “I want you to be like this every day,” instantly conveying his high standards for unity and order.
This powerful symbolic gesture left a lasting impression, after which Arteta immediately began transforming the team’s mentality and training approach. Xhaka expressed profound admiration for Arteta’s unique vision and the high standards he established from day one, impacting training, activation, and recovery. Under Arteta’s leadership, Granit Xhaka played a crucial role in Arsenal securing the FA Cup in 2020 and contributing to their strong Premier League title challenge in the 2022/2023 season.
