Daily Bits and Bobs

Who is the man behind the new Arsenal steel?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

I’ve read the story but know very little about the man who could be behind our new found steely side. In past years Arsenal have bottled games, failing to hold onto a lead to secure maximum points, or in some cases, losing all three points. When going behind in a game, players heads have dropped, their body language is that of defeat rather than showing any grit and determination to fight back.

But this season, something looks different. At Utd, we were trailing 1-0 and playing terrible football which can happen sometimes after all, these players are only human but from somewhere came an equaliser before the final whistle blew and it was so late in the game, it proved that this team aren’t prepared to give up, even when all looks lost.

There’s no doubting the players we have in the squad are good, some are very good, others outstanding but Arsene Wenger has turned to a chap called Dr Ceri Evans, a guy I’d never heard of for a bit of assistance.

Thanks to The Telegraph, this is who he is and what he does:

Arsenal have in the past been accused of falling short – failing to win the Premier League or Champions League and losing key matches under pressure – and there has already been a discernible difference in their mental toughness: they recently went on a 19-match unbeaten run.

An Arsenal spokesman confirmed that the club was using Evans: . “We are always looking for new ways to progress and continue competing at the top of the game,” he said. “This involves every aspect of the way we work with our players and this is part of that continuous improvement. We will not discuss any detail of this work.”

Evans is an interesting character whose biggest claim to fame is working with the New Zealand rugby union team. After not winning the World Cup for 23 years the All Blacks triumphed twice – in 2011, the year after he started working with them, and 2015 – with Evans on board.

The 53-year-old is himself a New Zealander and the former captain of his country’s football team – making 85 appearances during the 1980s and early ’90s as a central defender – and is now a practising forensic psychiatrist.

He spent five seasons playing for Oxford United, and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, where he studied experimental psychology, before dropping into the lower leagues in this country and then working as a psychiatrist and consultant for a range of organisations and sports.

Last year Evans was used by the Mercedes Formula One team, providing help to their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and he offers was it is known as an ‘anti-choke mechanism’ – a way of dealing with high-pressure and high-stakes.

“The mind often limits us,” Evans said in a recent interview. “And actually our body can do more, and gets played out in different ways, even just in straight endurance. We think we’ve reached our threshold but the mind gives up first.”

In his work with the All Blacks Evans described two mental states: ‘Red Head/Blue Head’. Red Head is negative, when you are overwhelmed and tense, while Blue Head is cool and controlled. He devised ‘personal triggers’ – for example, a player can stamp his feet on the turf to ‘ground’ himself, or use mental imagery, such as picturing himself in the stadium – to try to get back from being a ‘Red Head’ to a ‘Blue Head’.

Sports psychologists refer to this as being like regulating an emotional thermostat.

The use of sports psychologists is commonplace in sport, although it is interesting that the normally guarded Wenger has turned to one.

Interestingly Wenger has already praised Arsenal’s mental toughness this season – not least after the late draw at Manchester United last month. “We had a good mental response to come back with a point,” he said, adding, “last year we would have lost this game”, while conceding that Arsenal can suffer from a mental block at Old Trafford.

Wenger has also given further clues that he is working with a sports psychologist when he said: “In this game a lot is linked with confidence and I feel that at the moment it’s high because we win game after game.

“That means we can get over the dodgy periods [in games] with less psychological damage but what you want is to get them out as well.”

Possibly, the work of Evans can already be traced in Arsenal’s season so far. Traditionally they have suffered a dip in form in the month of November – when statistics show they historically have taken just 1.59 points per game under Wenger – but this season they were unbeaten in the league in their bogey month, although they did go out of the EFL Cup in the quarter-finals against Southampton and drew three of their six games. Even so they achieved an above-average November of 1.7 points per Premier League game.

Whatever he does, long may it continue and even if we get Real Madrid later this morning in the Champions League draw, by the time the fixture comes around, this team will not only believe they can win, but will.

Who says Arsene doesn’t listen…..

Happy Monday guys…

rico

87 thoughts on “Who is the man behind the new Arsenal steel?”

  2. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    I dare say the fact we have a squad with some players who know how to win at the highest level also plays its part, but that’s not to dismiss this gents work.
    Long may it continue.

  4. rico says:

    Just been listening to Henry on SS’s this morning. He says it’s all about self belief, and as a group, believing they can win.

    Perhaps that’s exactly what this guy has been brought in hammer home into the players minds…

  5. gnarleygeorge9 says:

    Evening Rico & all,

    An example of change was plain to see on Saturday, when Xhaka ran his arm over Allen’s face. Mustafi has been rather robust when tackling players as well. It sends a message to the shawcrosses of the league. Joe Allen was virtually in affective after Xhaka sickened him ?

  10. Marinello says:

    Hi Rico,
    Hope you are well.
    Good post. Sports psychologists are an important part of back room team in all Sports now. Many footballers appear confident off the pitch but once on the pitch, it’s sometimes another story. They are only human and with some players all it takes is a couple of misplaced passes, individual errors etc in games and then the old confidence starts to go.
    Everton up next, they are not having the best of runs at the moment, a win at Goodison will keep the pressure on Chelsea.
    Let’s steer clear of any more long term injuries and see where we are in January.

  11. rico says:

    Hi Marinello, all is good thanks, how are you?

    I’d rather Everton were in better form to be honest, I now that sounds odd but we can’t afford to be complacent…

  18. Wavy says:

    At least it’s not Real or Juve! And, we always win in München! 2-0 usually. It’s that we tend to lose 0-4 at home!
    They are beatable and I’m quietly confident too.

    Morning all. Very dull here.

  21. tsgh says:

    Good morning Rico and all…

    Rico- What’s all this Sports psychology B.S; there was me thinking football was just 11 men/boys running around and kicking leather. 😛
    What will Fred and Micko say to this purported self belief? 🙂 And when does self belief translate to arrogance and then to over complacency? 😉

    The UCL draw was so predictable…; saying that Aw has an excellent record against Carlito so anything is possible.

  22. Marshall says:

    Morning all. Nice to see there’s someone tweaking our players mentally. Games will be coming thick and fast this month, I hope we keep up with the mental resilience.

  25. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all and thanks Rico.

    Only way we will know if 1st or 2nd mattered is the outcome of the next round !………..1st or 2nd, we were always destined to meet Bayern or Barca…………. must say I prefer Bayern ………..will having 2nd leg at home make any difference ?…………..a lot will depend on the 1st leg !
    At least we are in the proper stages of the competition where it gets exciting…….cant stand the league stages, but that`s about generating money !………………..knock out from the start with no seeding would imo probably get more different winners, just like the FA Cup……..shame it`s about the money !……………………………………………..I`d still rather beat Everton tomorrow night though !

  27. Le Coq Monster says:

    Never knocked out either BM or Barca, but we`ve knocked out Real and Juve in the past………….and I think Sevilla…..or am I getting them mixed up with someone else ?……………………Oh well what will be will be ! 🙂

  30. allezkev says:

    Afternoon All.

    Afternoon Rico, very good post…

    The CL draw is a fix, it’s just too similar every year…
    It all about the cash for UEFA…
    I just don’t believe it anymore.

    If we beat Bayern and eliminate them, we won’t get them again.
    That’s why we didn’t get Real, we beat them last time.
    I think the whole draw is bent, a charade…

    But, I think we could do it this time.
    Ok Bayern will have enjoyed a winter break and be fresh.
    But we’ll be sharp, match sharp, up to speed.
    We can draw in Bavaria and beat them at the Emirates.
    Actually we can win both legs…
    Especially with our Kiwi psychologist, you can always rely on a Kiwi.

  31. allezkev says:

    Villareal we’ve knocked out, we used to have a terrible record in Spain but we’ve won in Madrid and Vigo, but let’s save the Spaniards for the semifinals Cocker…

    Leicester for the final….

  34. Obi says:

    Hi All:
    Where is Devil when you need him… that draw is a joke, no way it is not set up. Where do they even bother with the whole putting names in the pot scenario.

  35. Obi says:

    Line of the day on ESPN, they were talking about Stan’ s team the Rams in NFL. The panel was discussing how bad they are. The question was what does Stan thinks? The answer ” he doesn’t care at all, he’s busy running around building stadiums”…..ouch.

  36. Alex says:

    Hi everyone !
    More than the opposition we have to see ourselves……I mean people look at BM and come with different views.Some believe there is a flaw in the draw thing.Some think BM kind of impossible to bit them.I look at the last encounter and there was a time we good account of ourselves and there was a time lost it badly.We been spanked last time when as usual where decimated by injuries.

    I do feel comfortable to face them as we are in good vein.
    February in what sort of form and injury we will be ? If if we manage to stay fit i dont think there is much to worry.

    After all Sanogo is not yet gone …..long may stay lol

  38. Le Coq Monster says:

    Obi………….it makes you wonder about Kroenke doesn`t it, he doesn`t seem to give a toss about any of his teams/clubs performances on the pitch as long as they do well off of it and in the NFL…MLS….he doesn`t even have to think about relegation as it doesn`t exist !
    Arsenal is probably the only sports club he owns where he would have to get involved if we got relegated !

    Kroenke Out !

  40. Le Coq Monster says:

    Goonster is not doing a good job of terminating him then !…………….cant trust the Dutch !……………only interested in drugs and porn ! 🙂

    Europa League…………………………Tothenham Vs Gent……….never heard of them, but I am reliably imformed that they are a small club from a dark place in North London.

  42. allezkev says:

    Rico, what you did write was truly impressive all the same… ?

    Ginge, I have to admit, that Stan is a man of mystery, he lives a life in the shadows, but as you say, I do believe that Stan has the ear of Stan…

  43. allezkev says:

    Bob, not only do we have to contend with a corrupt draw, we also have to deal with corrupt referees…
    Any success that Arsenal enjoy in the competition from here on needs to be quantified by the odds stacked against us…

    If, as I believe, Arsenal eliminate Bayern this time, it will be a monumental achievement all things considered…

  44. tsgh says:

    Kev- I strongly believe we can beat BM; I need to check the ‘factoids’ but Carlo Ancelotti hasn’t got a great record against AW.

    Was carlito not the manager when we thrashed Milan in 2006?

  46. frednerk says:

    Afternoon All
    Ts.I have a feeling Arsene has a look on here.

    One of my team talks tells players
    Know matter how on top you are in a game
    the other team will have a time during play
    when they put you under.

    Granite and Mustifa do throw in a couple
    30/70 tackles which up to now has helped.
    Judas always moaned about fighters in
    the team.
    Ps I’m not cutting and pasting to prove this.
    Look it up.

  49. Micko says:

    rico, can you remember the name of our sports psychologist when we were winning all our doubles or were they just called captains back then !

  51. allezkev says:

    Ah Micko, the good old days, down the Chequers, Emerson Park, for a dozen psychological pints of Guinness, and it worked a treat…

    Personally I rely on double pie n mash with lashings of vinegar and liquor for my psychological crutch…

    Lee swears by it, he has an interesting turn of phrase does my Bishopsgate mucker…

    Adam uses an Old Compton Street pizza as his psychological aid, or that’s what I thought he said….

  54. Le Coq Monster says:

    Wish Kev wouldn`t keep mentioning Pie&Mash !…………..just dribbled over my keyboard !.

    So who is the King of Pie & Mash around these parts ?……………in that who eats the most ?………….if you beat my 6 pies and quadraple mash in one session then I doff my cap to you !

  62. allezkev says:

    Lee is the Pearly King around here Cocker, he sent me a list of all the pie n mash shops in and around the suburbs of London…
    It’s a fantastic read…

  66. Le Coq Monster says:

    Noticed that Zelalem is only on the bench, Rick !…………………..has he gone backwards ?……….played some friendlies for 1st team a while back, went to Rangers and now not even starting for U21s.

    I wonder Kev if that`s the same book I have of all the Pie&Mash shops in London, it`s a prize possession, but my friend, how many does Pearly Lee actually eat in one sit in ?……………….I`m top of the leader board currently with 6 pies and quadraple mash at my favoured S&R Kelly & Sons 284 Bethnal Green Rd ( nearest to Valence Rd ) hahaha

  67. Le Coq Monster says:

    http://statics.192.com/estreet/original/large/2251/22518082.jpg

    Look at the photo and you will see a mirror on the back wall of the Pie&Mash shop……………………I arranged to meet VCC in there before a game, it was so cold outside that when VCC walked in his glasses steamed up !…….. he walked past me and sat with his back to me and started to chat to the reflection of himself in the mirror !. 😆 😆 😆

  68. Le Coq Monster says:

    We then went to meet another blogger at The Arsenal Tavern in Blackstock Rd . As we went in I said I`d go and get the drinks and that Stretch ( other blogger) was over in the corner !……with steamed up glasses he went over to a hat stand covered in hat, scarf, coat and chatted to it for half an hour before finally getting agravated with it for being ignorant and started fighting with it and coming off worse with a broken toe for kicking it`s leg !. 😆 😆 😆

  69. Rick says:

    Poor first half 3-1 down
    75 mins now 3-2 Both Goals Mavididi.

    Coq I am not a fan of Zelalman Think he is very fragile and not up to P/L football.
    Just my opinion

  70. allezkev says:

    I guess it’s topical news, for us and the media in particular, to chat about Bayern and it sure is an exciting prospect, those two massive games and who’ll we get when we knock Munich out, but first, Arsenal have got 10 EPL games and probably 2 or 3 FACup ties before we face the Jerries and that’s what I’m gonna be focusing on…

    Six pies in one sitting is quite impressive Cocker, you must have hollow legs. ?

  72. VCC says:

    Hi YA Cocker……..I remember that day well buddy. So funny. We must do it again soon. Take care and have a wonderful Christmas, and a Healthy and Happy New Year. Love to the Wife and God bless.

  73. Le Coq Monster says:

    Hi Vics………………….Hope all is well for you and family, have a great up and coming festive season ! 😀

    Why I prefer Saturday games Kev, to come 250 miles and not have some Pie&Mash seems a bit wasted, plus after the gorging on pies we always go and get a couple of dozen PROPER Bagels from Brick Lane to take home !…………….really am in an uncontrollable dribbling fit now !. hahaha

  74. Obi says:

    LC, Kroenke finally fired his NFL coach, after losing this weekend he became the coach with the most loses in NFL hostory….lol.

  76. allezkev says:

    Rick, I can’t see Zelalem making it at Arsenal…
    He had a good year, last, at Glasgow Rangers, which is physical and where he won a trophy, but it’s another few levels up in the EPL.
    This season he should have been really pushing on, up alongside Iwobi, but it’s not happened…

  77. allezkev says:

    On the subject of extra substitutes, I wouldn’t mind an extra sub or two as long as they were, say an U23 and/or U21 from a teams own Academy. So not some young player you signed but someone who’d done two years minimum in your reserves/youths…

  82. allezkev says:

    ? Rico…

    So you’d have your usual substitutes but tag on say Bielik, Crowley, Jeff, Mavididi, and if the situation arises, like at West Ham, you can bring either or both on as well as your usual 3 subs.

  84. allezkev says:

    What a boring joke is that Ballon D’Or, I mean who really gives a shit…

    Yeah, the FA, hardly a forum for exciting new innovation and change…

  87. gnarleygeorge9 says:

    rico

    Was Dr Ceri Evans involved in the greatest choke in world sport, when the kiwis lost the America’s Cup. Kiwis should stick to bum sniffing & doing fancy stone age dances. 100% full of shit they are. I’m going to blame him for this last week, yet I bet he still gets paid handsomely for his failure.

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