Arsenal's dressing room was notably downbeat following the deflating Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City in March. However, Mikel Arteta had no time for negative energy, even though his players would have to wait 13 days to try and put things right in the FA Cup at Southampton. An awkwardly-timed international break beckoned and Arteta was determined to maintain his team's focus.
After several years of disappointment, he was not willing to let another long gruelling season slide and go to waste. They had simply come too far and made too many strides to freeze at the business end of the campaign. There was no denying the seismic shift in narrative. Many anticipated - and some hoped - that this might in fact be the beginning of the Gunners' demise.
Two separate sources with close links to Arsenal's playing squad indicated that the Spaniard's rallying cry that particular day was simple. The players were told that while Arteta absolutely respected the significance of representing your country, he needed them to stay locked in. They were also firmly reminded that they had worked tirelessly all season to get themselves into a position of serious strength and that the next few months would shape their destiny as a group.
Beyond the usual staples - like instructing the squad to recover, sleep and eat well - it was left at that. Arteta left the room to conduct his media duties and beyond that, pick the bones out of Arsenal's underwhelming Wembley display with his backroom staff and analysts.
News soon filtered through that Jurrien Timber would not be joining up with the Netherlands, while Newcastle's Harvey Barnes was replacing attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze in the England squad. Neither development was entirely surprising, given they were unavailable to face City due to ankle and calf issues, respectively.
Mirror Football then checked with club sources to clarify whether any other Arsenal players would be withdrawing from international duty. There was an expectation that Gabriel Magalhaes might pull out of Brazil duty as he had been battling some pain in his right knee but still, nothing concrete.
What followed was somewhat extraordinary. Gabriel withdrew following tests, William Saliba did not join up with France either due to an ankle problem; before Leandro Trossard withdrew from the Belgium squad due to hip pain. Less than one week later, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were sent home from England camp after resting against Uruguay before Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie were also released by their respective nations after picking up issues.
Critics - pundits and rival supporters - were highly sceptical as to whether all listed Arsenal players were actually injured. The counter-argument was that a large number of stars had been battling knocks and niggles for weeks. Travelling across the globe for international friendlies - Brazil, France and Belgium were playing matches in the United States - would hardly be ideal preparation for the run-in, either.
Sources close to two of the Arsenal players who pulled out of international duty verified that there were no conversations between Arteta and said stars regarding their withdrawals. Each decision was taken in compliance with club and international medical staff. It is said that while Arteta may have been notified, he would be briefed thoroughly on their condition further down the line.
In an end-of-season sit-down with Sky Sports, Arteta claimed it was one of two moments - because of the volume of 'injuries' - where he feared Arsenal had actually surrendered the title. Whether you believe him or not, what became clear in the aftermath of Arsenal's Carabao Cup final defeat was that Arteta possessed the aura of an elite manager.
Over the past few years, he has been able to control a big footballing institution with rich history and the club's infrastructure has effectively been built around him. If he continues to deliver, there is no reason why he cannot go down as one of the division's all-time managerial greats.
Nicky Butt previously claimed that Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson once pressured him to pull out of England duty. Arteta never needed to go down that road. Instead, in this instance, it was merely a decision that some took upon themselves because not only did they need the rest but they were utterly fixated on fulfilling Arsenal's collective goals.
Few managers inadvertently carry this level of power. Equally, the unbreakable level of respect Arteta commands has not been built overnight, either. It's been a gradual process that's required immense durability amid various setbacks and shortcomings. Yet now the first big prize has been banked, there's an underlying confidence, right up to boardroom level, that more silverware will now follow.
In the Amazon All or Nothing series that documented the rollercoaster 2021-22 season, Arsenal's players were always seated when Arteta delivered his post-match debriefs. At times, the body language amongst the squad was notably poor and negative. Arteta also physically towered over them, typifying the hierarchy that existed. It was a monstrous gulf that a large percentage of those players never managed to close.
Nowadays, while the Spaniard remains the Gunners' kingpin, the players stand when he delivers his post-match speech. His debriefs are short, succinct and very rarely last more than four or five minutes per sources but still, he requires total concentration and engagement. The finer detail, analysis and video will then follow at the Sobha Realty Training Centre but only once the dust has settled and raw emotions have subsided.
Arteta's methods have not just inspired his players, his staff members are also utterly engrossed, too. With renewed energy and huge momentum, it's plain to see why a manager with such authority feels Champions League glory is well within the club's grasp.
