The past week has seen a number of our international players jet back to London Colney at various points to prepare for our trip to Chelsea, but despite the disruption, Mikel Arteta feels that the cosmopolitan flavour of his squad is actually a strength.
We had 14 players represent their nations recently, playing in fixtures spanning from Uruguay to the USA, and the UAE to East Asia, sampling the highs and lows of the world game and absorbing lessons that’ll stand them in good stead when they next pull on the famous red and white.
They’ll also migrate back to north London to share their latest experiences with their teammates, and that pleases the boss who feels the current blend of characters and nationalities has forged the unique team spirit that has driven us to new levels in recent seasons.