Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta says he deliberately disrupted pre-season plans to teach players to adapt

Figure caption, How Arteta prepares Arsenal for unexpected delays

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal were ready for their midweek Champions League flight delay - because he deliberately disrupted their training and travel plans in pre-season to prepare them.

The Premier League champions were affected by air traffic control issues as they travelled to Italy to face Napoli on Wednesday.

They eventually arrived three hours behind their schedule but manager Arteta said his team were ready because of his methods.

"I love those challenges, I try to create them in pre-season," Arteta said at his news conference on Friday, before Saturday's Premier League trip to Sunderland (20:00 BST).

"So when they happen, we have already experienced them and we are ready.