‘Is this what the modern game has become’ – Souness tears into Mikel Arteta’s ‘nonsense’ tactic

GRAEME SOUNESS has criticised Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s latest eccentric tactic, labelling it “nonsense”.

The Gunners sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table with 11 games remaining.

A few of Mikel Arteta’s management tactics have split opinionGetty

Sky SportsGraeme Souness is not impressed with some of Arteta’s behaviour[/caption]

But a couple of his coaching methods have caught the eye, namely playing Anfield noise through speakers during a training session ahead of their trip to Liverpool.

Most recently, Arsenal‘s players were pictured holding a replica of the iconic clock from the Clock End in the changing room following their 3-0 win over Fulham last weekend.

And Souness has ripped apart both of Arteta‘s ideas.

Speaking in his column for The Mail, he said: “I read the story about Arsenal taking their home comforts into opposition dressing rooms and had to read it again to make sure it wasn’t a joke.

“Really? Is this what the modern game has become?

“So Arsenal players arrive at Fulham to find their own clock is on the wall along with their own pictures and stickers?

“It’s extremely strange and only a winning manager can get away with that.

“The Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is doing a fine job but he has form for such nonsense.

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“Last season he had You’ll Never Walk Alone played over the loudspeakers at training to prepare his players for a game at Anfield. They lost 4-0, so that went well for them.

“When I walked into an opposing dressing room I didn’t want to feel comfortable. I didn’t want to feel like I was in my living room at home. I was at work. I was on enemy territory and I wanted to feel fired up.

“If I had arrived at an away ground to find a clock from Anfield waiting for me on the wall, I would have burst out laughing. And I would not have been alone.”

Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday evening as Sporting Lisbon beat them on penalties in the last-16.

But they are still in the box seat to win the Premier League title and can extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points with a win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Arsenal posed with the Clock End clock from the Emirates after their win over Fulhaminstagram