Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has admitted that one of the methods he used to inspire his team is occasionally bringing an olive tree to team meetings.

Arteta spoke about another odd motivational tool he uses at London Colney after it was revealed that the Arsenal manager had started bringing a chocolate Labrador named Win to the training facility to give a calming impact.

In his press conference ahead of Arsenal's trip to Nottingham Forest, Arteta spoke about the club's olive tree, a miniature version of which he has used to explain the importance of togetherness to his young squad.

The Spaniard said: "Another symbol at the club is our tree.

It needs a lot of care as well. It’s an olive tree, it’s older than 150 years, similar to the club, and we have to look after those roots every single to the day, make sure they don’t get poisoned, don’t get damaged and it’s in the right condition."

ESPN reports that Arteta spotted the tree from the window of his office and asked a staff member to make a miniature version that he could use in front of his squad.

Win the dog and the olive tree are the latest in a line of inventive ways Arteta communicates ideas to his players.

The light bulb scene in Amazon's All or Nothing series was another famous example.

Appropriately enough, after Friday's tree revelation, Arsenal take on relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in Saturday's late kick-off.