Mikel Arteta admits to using AI as Arsenal seek their first league title since 2004

Mikel Arteta has admitted to using AI to help Arsenal's pursuit of a first Premier League title for 22 years, but stressed coaches need to be careful when using the tool.

Arteta has developed a reputation for pursuing new methods to help his Gunners side, ranging from tactical tweaks to motivational techniques.

Ahead of Arsenal's trip to Sunderland in the Premier League, Arteta was asked whether he has used artificial intelligence (AI) in a bid to give his side the edge.

It followed Laura Harvey, who coaches Seattle Reign in the United States' National Women's Soccer League, admitted to turning to AI service ChatGPT for tactical suggestions.

Harvey, who managed Arsenal's women's team from 2010 to 2012, admitted setting her team up with a back five in two matches after it was recommend against two rivals.

Arteta was coy over the use of AI with his Arsenal side when asked about Harvey's admission, but acknowledged it has been used by the Premier League leaders to evaluate performances and help identify areas of improvement. 

‘It’s a tool that is super powerful if you use it in the right way and you ask the right questions,' Arteta said.

‘It’s in use already for many things and many processes that can help not just a team but an organisation as well.

‘It will improve and it will give us good insight, or things at least to think about. I’m not an expert but it’s a valuable tool.

‘We have developed certain things that in our opinion can help us to understand ourselves better and evaluate what we do and what we can improve.

‘And then we will explore using it in many other areas of the club.'

Arteta admitted he would be interested in the potential of AI to help monitor players fitness and injuries.

The Arsenal boss, however, said that the tool would not be able to replicate dealing personally with players despite providing useful data.

Arteta highlighted the importance of understanding data and using in the the correct way to ensure it is used effectively.

'If it’s reliable, it can help us [for injuries], for sure but always without losing the sensitivity and feeling and following your gut,' Arteta said.

‘We are dealing with human beings and that’s an aspect that, so far, it is not able to replace.’

He added: With the stats, it is about how do I interpret those stats and how reliable they are? You can get very confused, very annoyed, immediately.

'But this data means nothing, because you have to analyse. What is the methodology of that?

‘And if you don’t understand that, and you just look at the data, then you can have a big problem.’

Arsenal headed into their match against Sunderland six points clear at the top of the Premier League, with closest rivals Liverpool and Man City also set to meet on Sunday.