Declan Rice (left) and his Arsenal team-mates balance a ball between their heads during training(Image: PA)

Mikel Arteta was back to his old tricks on the training ground as he looks to prevent Arsenal’s season from unravelling.

The Gunners boss took practicing pens to a new level after seeing his side’s hopes of landing an historic quadruple disappear in back-to-back games either side of a crushing international break. Last month's Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City was followed by a shock loss to Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final.

That has left them with just the Premier League and Champions League to play for. In response, Arteta has turned to the kind of wacky methods that have become a hallmark of his coaching, which has seen him branded a 'LinkedIn Loon' on occasions.

Arsenal players balance pens using their index fingers while dribbling a football(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal’s players were put through a series of unusual drills at the club’s London Colney training ground, designed to sharpen focus, coordination and teamwork, ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting Lisbon.

Continue Reading: 'LinkedIn loon' Arteta turns to weird training drills to revive Arsenal's season