Mikel Arteta adds canine companion to foster positivity and unity at Arsenal
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has added a unique member to the team in a bid to foster positivity and a sense of unity.
The Gunners boss has overseen a sensational season of progress in north London, with the club fighting tooth and nail with the seemingly unstoppable Manchester City in a bid to win their first Premier League title in 19 years.
Though they are likely to come up short in their efforts, Arsenal have far exceeded pre-season expectations, and will return to next season's Champions League armed with a belief that they can compete with the very best on the continent.
But in order to maintain standards and help push Arsenal on to bigger and better things, Arteta has, as revealed by The Times, taken his recruitment in a slightly unusual direction – meaning the likes of Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo and other transfer targets will need to take a back seat.
A chocolate Labrador nicknamed "Win" has been brought into the club's London Colney training ground - the result of research from Arteta that indicates interacting with dogs can have a calming effect on people's moods and reduce stress.
She is looked after by a primary carer, playing with players and staff members when possible, and complements the club's resident training ground cat, Bob, who was adopted when his owner died.
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Innovation in a bid to gain any kind of advantage is nothing new for Arteta, who most famously played Liverpool's "You'll Never Walk Alone" anthem through the club's training ground on a giant set of speakers.
The Spaniard was trying to replicate the hostile atmosphere his side would face at Anfield, but that particular ploy fell flat on its face as Arsenal were thumped 4-0 by Jurgen Klopp's side.
There may also be nothing Arsenal's new canine companion can do about Manchester City winning the title this Sunday against Chelsea – unless Arteta devises a cunning plan to ruffle some feathers in the north west with some unwelcome ankle nibbling.
City have a four-point advantage with a game in hand on Arsenal, who may already have surrendered the title if they fail to beat Nottingham Forest in Saturday's late game.
On this edition of The Chronicles of a Gooner, part of the 90min podcast network, Harry Symeou discusses the news that Aaron Ramsdale has signed a new long-term contract with the club.
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