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Arsenal<\/b><\/a> boss Mikel Arteta is known for his innovative – often unorthodox – methods to motivate his players. <\/b><\/p>\n So when a fire was lit at the club’s London Colney training ground earlier this week, it was assumed the Spaniard had pulled off another of his tricks. <\/p>\n But this time it was not Arteta that was behind the stunt, as others took it upon themselves to rouse the squad before a defining week in the Spaniard’s tenure. <\/p>\n On Wednesday, they hosted Sporting in the Champions League and secured a place in the semi-finals. Next up is a visit to Manchester City<\/a> in the Premier League on Sunday – their closest challengers in the title race.<\/p>\n “Every game we use different themes to try to prepare the game in the best possible way and that depends on what we do,” said Arteta.<\/p>\n “The best ones are the players’ initiatives. That’s the ones I love the most.”<\/p>\n Having last won a trophy in 2020 with the FA Cup, during Arteta’s first season in charge, and not being league champions for 22 years, the pressure has intensified to deliver success.<\/p>\n Before the midweek tie against Sporting, Arteta asked his side to play with “pure fire” – though ultimately, they limped to the semi-finals with a 0-0 draw.<\/p>\n “No fear, pure fire. That’s it,” he said before the game.<\/p>\n “Pure fire, that’s what I want to see from the players, the people, myself.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n