Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal management 'inspired' by All Blacks winning culture - 'An inspiration'

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Mikel Arteta admitted that New Zealand rugby head coach Scott Robertson is an “inspiration”, adding that Arsenal had learned lessons from the All Blacks’ culture. The Spaniard claimed his interest in New Zealand rugby led him to read Legacy, a book on the All Blacks. New Zealand, who visited Arsenal's training ground this week, play England at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

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Mikel Arteta labelled New Zealand rugby head coach Scott Robertson as an “inspiration” and admitted Arsenal had learned lessons from the All Blacks’ culture.

New Zealand take on England at Allianz Stadium - formerly known as Twickenham - in London on Saturday, with the game live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

And ahead of the Autumn Nations Test, the All Blacks visited Arsenal’s training ground where they met men's and women’s captains Martin Odegaard and Kim Little, while the rest of Arteta’s first-team squad were in Preston for a Carabao Cup fourth-round encounter.

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Arteta, whose side face Newcastle on Saturday - also live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - has revealed that Robertson is a coach he is inspired by, adding that he has tried to implement aspects of the All Blacks set up at Arsenal.

“I have a good relationship with Razor, their head coach,” said Arteta. “He’s an inspiration, he’s such a character.

“It was a shame that the day that we were leaving [to play Preston], they were coming. We tried to set it up at different times. It was difficult to do, but yeah, I know them very well.”

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Arteta’s interest in New Zealand rugby led him to read Legacy, a book that explores the leadership principles that have made New Zealand among the most successful sporting teams in history.

“I recommend it to everybody,” Arteta continued. “It talks about them and their culture and their winning mentality, and how they approach sport, life, and relationships is really inspiring.

“I then had the chance to meet [Robertson] and we are in one of the groups together. So it’s been great.”

When asked what specifically he had taken from the All Blacks culture and implemented at Arsenal, Arteta said: “It’s especially about the culture and the importance of clarity, or what it means when you put on a jersey.

“The sense of belonging to something. When somebody plays with that feeling, I think it elevates his level of commitment, it elevates his capacity to perform and impact the organisation in a different way.”

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