Arteta forces two‑minute office rebuild to cement Arsenal unity
Mikel Arteta’s latest revelation pits his two‑minute office‑reorganisation test against a record‑breaking contract that now pays him around £20 million a year, making him the Premier League’s highest‑paid manager, at Arsenal, as reported by HARRY BAMFORTH of LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE on 8 October 2026.
Arteta has long delighted in unconventional squad tests, from hiring a pickpocket to steal his own players’ wallets to engineering travel disruption during pre‑season. He also became famous for blasting "You'll Never Walk Alone" on speakers before a 4‑0 defeat at Anfield in 2021, and he even introduced a team dog called Win.
First‑day office upheaval
On his first day in December 2019, the then 37‑year‑old destroyed an education centre at Arsenal’s training complex, hurling computers, laptops and cables onto the floor. He then demanded the staff re‑assemble the office in no more than two minutes to prove their togetherness.
In an interview with The Athletic, Arteta explained, "You have two minutes to put this in order and be ready to work together." He added that the exercise could have ended his managerial career if the staff had failed.
From tenth to champions
Since that chaotic start, Arteta has guided Arsenal from tenth place in 2019 to Premier League champions and a Champions League final appearance, a transformation achieved over seven years. He says the unity‑first philosophy creates a "monster" capable of beating any opposition.
The new deal, which runs until 2030, boosts his salary from a previous package worth up to £15 million with bonuses to roughly £20 million per year, cementing his status as the league’s best‑paid manager.
By comparison, peers such as Unai Emery, Andoni Iraola, Enzo Maresca and Roberto De Zerbi earn between £10 million and £12 million annually, with Oliver Glasner not far behind.
Arteta thanked Stan and Josh Kroenke for their trust, describing the contract as a privilege and expressing pride in the love and respect he receives from the club’s supporters.
The contrast between his bizarre two‑minute office test and his unprecedented earnings highlights a manager who blends eccentric motivation with tangible success, suggesting his unconventional methods will continue to shape Arsenal’s future.