Mikel Arteta adopts the ‘Bomb Squad’ of Rugby for Arsenal: the strategy behind the success in the Champions League

He Arsenal from England had its victorious debut in the Champions League On Tuesday, with his victory as a 2-0 visitor about Athletic Bilbao. After the triumph, the coach of the English team Mikel Arteta, appeared at conference and explained that the “finishers” (enders) of his squad could be “more important” than those of the starting eleven this season, A concept that says having taken from rugby union.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trosssard marked and attended each other, After starting as substitutes to guide the Gunners to victory. Martinelli has gone through difficult times in recent months: it was hard for him to find his shape and was relegated to the bank, meanwhile, Belgian striker Trosssard has limited himself to only three appearances as a substitute so far from 2025-26 after playing 56 times last season.

Does that mean that they are less important now? No, according to Arteta, who said that He “loves” how players “ending” in rugby are usually called.

Asked about the mentality of the players left on the bench, he said: “They are at least equally important, or more important. We have spoken it. The auctors will sometimes be more important this season than the headlines. We can change the game there, especially with the intensity with which we play and the teams begin to decline. I am very happy to see that“

In recent years, the importance of the substitute bank in rugby has grown more and more, along with the intensity and physicality of sport. The most prominent and innovative exponent of Bank’s tactics has been the coach of South Africa, Rassie Eramsmus, who often leaves players who could be holders in the bank as part of his “Bomb Squad”, to play the most crucial minutes of the game.

RG Snyman, Leinster’s second line, is a clear example of the powerful player who enters the last 30-40 minutes to generate impact. His comments on the ‘Bomb Squad’ put in context the importance given to the alternates on the Springboks squad.

“Actually, if a boy is selected for the starting lineup leaving from the bench, we say: ‘Sorry, man, maybe in the next game you will return to Bomb Squad‘. We take that role very seriously”Snyman said.