The Spaniard - whose Arsenal take on Newcastle today in a match which, like England v New Zealand later on, is also live on TNT Sports - expressed his admiration for the All Blacks' winning culture, revealing that their famed leadership principles have influenced his coaching approach in North London. As a gesture of his appreciation, the All Blacks were guests at Arsenal's training base earlier this week.
Arteta has often spoken about his respect for New Zealand rugby head coach Scott Robertson, also known as 'Razor', who he describes as an "inspiration". He says that his interest in All Blacks rugby led him to read the book Legacy by James Kerr, which delves into the leadership principles and cultural values that have made the All Blacks one of the most successful sporting teams in history. "It talks about them and their culture and their winning mentality and how they approach sport, life, and relationships is really inspiring," Arteta says.
The 42-year-old has implemented aspects of the All Blacks' setup at Arsenal, focusing on the importance of clarity and the sense of belonging when putting on a jersey. "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," Arteta explains.
Arteta is not alone in looking to the All Blacks for inspiration. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp once said of his team: "As long as you wear this shirt, less than 100% is not allowed. That is not my phrase, it came from the All Blacks. I saw that in a nice documentary about the All Blacks and I kept that always for myself. That is for each LFC player the same and for me the same."
Several other sports teams and individuals have adopted similar principles to achieve success too, including high-profile names in American sports such as the NFL and NBA.
England v New Zealand, Saturday 2nd November, 15:10, Allianz Stadium
