Despite already being an established top-flight defender, Lee Dixon still had a lot to learn when Arsène Wenger arrived in 1996.
The manager revolutionised his players’ lives away from the pitch, implementing cutting-edge training regimes and dietary systems and, while it was completely new to the squad he inherited, Dixon says the team embraced the forward-thinking change in approach.
“We took it all on board, we listened to his advice, we did his stretching and we ate his food,” the former England international told Arsenal Player.
“We played in a way where we were released from the shackles a bit. He didn’t suddenly turn me into a more composed, more skilful player than I was before, he just released me in a way.
“I played with a lot more freedom. I was allowed to express myself a little bit more and that’s what he did to everybody. All of a sudden, the team started to blossom.”
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