Mikel Arteta brings an olive tree to Arsenal team meetings as Gunners boss explains latest bizarre motivational tool

• Arteta had miniature version cultivated
• Uses tree to show need to 'nurture and grow together'
• Gunners also look after dog at training ground

WHAT HAPPENED? After it emerged that the Gunners boss had begun bringing a chocolate Labrador named Win to the training ground to add a calming effect, Arteta spoke about another quirky motivational tool he uses at London Colney.

WHAT THEY SAID: In his press conference ahead of Arsenal's trip to Nottingham Forest, Arteta spoke about the club's olive tree, a miniature version of which he has used to explain the importance of togetherness to his young squad. The Spaniard said: "Another symbol at the club is our tree. It needs a lot of care as well. It’s an olive tree, it’s older than 150 years, similar to the club, and we have to look after those roots every single to the day, make sure they don’t get poisoned, don’t get damaged and it’s in the right condition."

THE BIGGER PICTURE: ESPN reports that Arteta spotted the tree from the window of his office and asked a staff member to make a miniature version that he could use in front of his squad. Win the dog and the olive tree are the latest in a line of inventive ways Arteta communicates ideas to his players. The light bulb scene in Amazon's All or Nothing series was another famous example.

IN TWO PHOTOS:

Getty

Getty Images

WHAT NEXT? Appropriately enough, after Friday's tree revelation, Arsenal take on relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in Saturday's late kick-off.