Mikel Arteta has continued to show how he uses unique psychological methods to motivate Arsenal players after placing a replica of the Premier League trophy at the team’s training ground. But this trophy has one major difference — it is connected to a lighting system and can only light up once Arsenal are officially confirmed as champions.
Throughout the entire season, the trophy has stood silently at the training ground without any light, serving as a daily reminder to the squad that the job is not yet finished. The players pass by it every time they arrive for training, looking at it as the ultimate goal they have not yet achieved. Arteta appears determined to keep that dream constantly in front of their eyes, not just in words.
This move comes while Arsenal sit at the top of the league table with only two matches remaining in the season — against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away. The title race is still open, with Manchester City closely chasing them, but Arsenal have a strong chance to finish the job and lift the trophy for the first time with this squad.
Arteta’s methods have been widely discussed this season. Besides the trophy, he has previously used psychological tactics such as images of hunting dogs and other motivational techniques before big matches. These methods show how much he wants his players to live that dream every single day until it becomes reality.
For players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz, the trophy is not just decoration. It has become a symbol of what they are fighting for. Every training session, every drop of sweat, every match — their eyes return to the same thing: the title.
Now Arsenal are only two steps away from achieving that dream. If they complete the job, the trophy will light up for the very first time — and that moment could become the defining image of their entire season. Sometimes, small symbols create great history.
