What Mikel Arteta does on Zoom call to find out if players are right fit for Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta can identify which players are the right fit for Arsenal just by looking into their eyes during a Zoom call. The Spaniard's powers of persuasion have been instrumental in attracting elite players to his team of late.

Arteta has convinced some of the most sought-after and highly-rated players to choose Arsenal in recent transfer windows. That has played a key part in the Gunners becoming consistent Premier League title contenders over the past three seasons. In 2023, Arsenal beat Manchester City to the £105million signing of Declan Rice. They then beat Liverpool, Real Madrid and City to the punch for Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi earlier this summer. And, most recently, Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres chose the Emirates Stadium over Old Trafford, joining Arsenal for a fee of £63.4m.

Almost always, new signings emphasise the crucial role Arteta played in their decision to join Arsenal. The detailed tactics he shares with the player, the personal connection he builds and the enthusiasm he conveys during initial discussions are all key.

Those expertise and knowledge are things the Spaniard is hoping to bring to Under Armour, having been unveiled as the American sportswear giant's global ambassador this week. The role will see him share his insights and understanding of the sport in areas such as brand development, talent identification and leadership, as well as developing the next generation of athletes with his role in Under Armour's Next Programme.

Speaking at the announcement of his new role, Arteta noted that during the first video meeting with a prospective Arsenal player, he is not only pitching the club but also assessing the individual's abilities. He revealed that, at that stage, the player's personality is the most crucial factor in determining whether they can thrive under him - whether they will sink or swim in the highly-pressurised environment of a Premier League title-challenging dressing room.

Arteta said: "Personality [is the most important attribute for a player]. Without that, you have no chance. You have to look at somebody's eyes.

"When I go to sign a player, sometimes it's on Zoom and I open the laptop, it's the first impression. Is this guy ready to put that jersey on, work in that dressing room and take all the noise that is surrounding his signing and deal with it in the right way?"

He added: "And then we go to the qualities and how this player is going to relate to other people because at the end, this player is going to have to glide into the dressing room so you have to imagine this person with this personality and in this position and how they are going to connect with Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

"If these groups add this person, it's going to influence this group but at the end of the day, they're all going to have to connect with each other."

His comments help explain why he chose to bring Gyokeres from Sporting CP last month. Arteta had previously shown strong interest in Benjamin Sesko, who was still at RB Leipzig at the time, but the Slovenian's salary expectations and Leipzig's hefty valuation led him and Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta to explore alternative options.

Gyokeres, the prolific striker Arsenal have perhaps been missing for half a decade, demonstrated his commitment to the transfer by pushing for his departure from Sporting, refusing to report for training sessions and making it clear that N5 was his preferred destination.

The Swede's firm conviction that Arsenal was the right club may well have been the deciding factor that convinced Arteta to make the signing. He rewarded Gyokeres' courage by not hesitating to play him or look to protect him by gradually easing him in during pre-season.

With Gyokeres expected to start when Arsenal kick off their 2025/26 Premier League season on Sunday against Manchester United, we might see whether the tactician has successfully showcased his exceptional talent ID once more.