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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has reportedly adopted a dog to visit the training ground and boost the squad's morale and confidence.
The Times report that the Spanish boss brought in a chocolate labrador named 'Win' after learning research has shown that petting a dog can be calming and improve a person's mood.
The Gunners have had one of their best campaigns in quite some time in the Premier League this season. The north London outfit have only seen the top two spots in the table the entire season, putting in some incredible performances.
Arsenal seemed to be successfully rivaling a Manchester City team that has been extremely dominant in the English top tier in recent history. Pep Guardiola's side have won four league titles in five years and look on track to defend their crown this season.
The Gunners are currently second in the standings after a slip-up in the title race that included a brutal 4-1 defeat to the Cityzens on 27 April. Arteta's men are now four points behind City, who also have a game in hand over the Gunners.
A win in City's upcoming fixture against Chelsea on Sunday (21 May) would end the title race in their favor, making it Guardiola's fifth league title at the club.
Arsenal will have to win their next two league encounters to have a chance of becoming English champions for the first time in nearly two decades. It remains to be seen whether their training ground dog will help them succeed.
"We are still there" - Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal 'will not bottle' this season despite four-point deficit
Despite the Gunners falling behind City by four points, Arteta insists that his side can still become English champions this term. The Spaniard sent an emphatic message ahead of his side's encounter against Nottingham Forest on 20 May. He said (via Manchester Evening News):
“We have shown this season [that we can be title contenders] and we are still there. There’s still two games to go. We can still be champions against probably the best team in the history of the Premier League."
The former Barcelona midfielder added:
"We are still there and we're not going to bottle it, that’s for sure. What happens next season depends on how we evolve and how we start.”
Following their encounter against Forest at the City Ground on Saturday, Arsenal will lock horns with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates on 28 May.
