Gary Lineker mocks Mikel Arteta’s ‘cringeworthy’ training as Arsenal title hopes take a hit with Manchester City closing the gap

Gary Lineker has openly criticised Mikel Arteta for his unusual training methods at Arsenal. The comments came after Arsenal suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium. This loss has increased the pressure on the North London club as they try to win their first Premier League title since 2004.The defeat has also allowed Manchester City to close the gap in the title race. City now sit just six points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. The two teams are set to face each other at the Etihad Stadium, which could play a major role in deciding the title. If Arsenal fail again, Arteta could miss out on the league trophy for the fourth straight season.

Gary Lineker slams Mikel Arteta’s questionable methods

Gary Lineker believes Arsenal’s recent struggles are partly due to the way Mikel Arteta is preparing his players.

He suggested that teams competing for the title should focus on staying calm and sticking to simple routines. Instead, he feels Arsenal are doing things differently at a time when stability is needed the most. According to him, these changes are drawing unnecessary attention and may show that the team is feeling the pressure.

Speaking on his podcast, Lineker explained that Arsenal seem to be creating problems for themselves.

He said Arteta’s approach is starting to look over the top. He pointed out examples like players practicing penalties while holding pens and watching edited videos during training sessions. In his view, such methods are unusual and not needed when a team is fighting for the title.He also mentioned that changing routines during a crucial phase can send the wrong message. He believes it may signal that the players and staff are under stress.

Lineker added that if such ideas are used, they should be kept private instead of being shown publicly. He noted that these actions would not be criticised if Arsenal were winning matches, but poor results have made them look questionable.Arteta has been known for creative training ideas. In the past, he used unusual methods like team-building exercises with objects and even surprise scenarios during meetings. While these ideas aim to improve focus and teamwork, they are now being questioned as Arsenal struggle to maintain their lead in the title race.