Mikel Arteta locking Arsenal stars in dressing room was a 'turning point' for players

Theo Walcott has recalled the moment his former Arsenal team-mate and current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta proved his managerial mettle and strong character while still a player.

Mikel Arteta showed his potential as a manager while still a player at Arsenal(AFP via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta once locked his Arsenal teammates in the dressing room as a player – an act which Theo Walcott says was a “turning point” in how other Gunners stars viewed him.

Arteta played for Arsenal between 2011 and 2016. Arsene Wenger signed him from Everton on deadline day – and he immediately became one of Walcott’s most experienced teammates thanks to his wealth of experience at of a young locker room.

The Spaniard is now regarded as one of the brightest minds in football, having transformed the club since taking over as manager in late 2019. As well as bringing fans back to the team, he has led them to two successive Premier League title challenges and an FA Cup triumph.

And Walcott – who retires in 2023 – highlighted the moment he began to see Arteta’s credentials as a future manager. He highlighted one particular moment when the current Arsenal boss displayed decisive leadership skills, taking it upon himself to lock the players in the dressing room before training to get them to break the mould.

Speaking on Up Front with Simon Jordan on the William Hill podcast, the 35-year-old said: “The turning point I remember in my experience with Mikel was when he was a player. Hindsight is a good thing, but the turning point for me was when we weren’t in the top four at the time.

“We trained in 30 minutes. Mikel literally locked down the locker room – players only. It’s like he said ‘I’m taking over this whole space. I’m going to tell it like it is. It’s an open room if anyone else wants to talk.’

“I will always remember it, it was like he was the manager at that time. I was like, “This guy could be a manager, I’d love to play for this guy.”

Theo Walcott recalled the moment Arteta locked Arsenal players in the dressing room

“We finished in the top four that year and there was this particular speech. Arsène was outside waiting for us to train and we weren’t there because Mikel had stopped training. That’s how strong a character he was. Even Arsène was afraid of him.”