Mikel Arteta has revealed a chocolate Labrador called Win has helped Arsenal bounce back from their title disappointment.
The Gunners saw their hopes of winning the Premier League all but end after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton.
Manchester City can wrap up the title this weekend with victory over Chelsea on Sunday or if Arsenal lose at Nottingham Forest on Saturday night.
Arteta has taken steps this week to lift the morale of his downbeat squad with a 12-month-old canine adopted by the club and now a regular member of the training ground staff.
“We always talk about family and being connected. In my opinion a big family like we are at the club, which I feel we are, it needed a dog to represent that family,” Arteta explained.
“I think there are still things at the club that can be done to connect with people, to be more caring with people, to show love. I found this dog that in my opinion was the perfect representative of who we are right now.
“Her name is Win. We all love winning and Win needs a lot of love, so the love for Win was basically that. The reaction of the players has been incredible and the staff.
“She is one of us and is going to be on this journey with us together. I think it is something that changes your mood like this (click).
“You come into the building and she is giving you all the love. Suddenly you feel the energy and the players are on the floor hugging her. It is beautiful to watch and a different feeling. For me those things are very, very important.”
Arteta got Win from a dog trainer and such is her popularity at the club’s London Colney training ground that a rota has been drawn up to ensure she does not go on too many walks.
It was put to the Gunners boss that an animal that represents stronger qualities, like a Pitbull, may be more appropriate.
But he revealed: “I think we have other sides of it. We have another symbol at the club that is a tree, that is very strong but needs a lot of care as well.
“It is an olive tree that is more than 150 years old, almost similar to the club, and we have to look after those roots every single day. To make sure they don’t get poisoned, don’t get damaged and to make sure they are in the right condition.
“There are different things but this team in the right moments needs a bit of (Win). It needs accountability because we have to look after her as well and her emotions and what she needs. I think it is a good thing to have.”
The Olive Tree is visible from Arteta’s office and he is clear in his mind that the club cannot stand still this summer.
“Crucial, I would say,” Arteta said. “To go to the next level it will be a crucial summer for us. That’s for sure.
“First of all to make sure we maintain everything we have at the club right now. That we maintain that expectation, that enthusiasm and energy around the place and we have a proper preparation to fulfil the objectives and challenges we will have next season.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
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