Roy Keane mercilessly pokes fun at Mikel Arteta’s unusual pickpocketing exercise ahead of the 2024-25 campaign – as the pundit delivers a hilarious response to the Arsenal boss’ pre-season scheme.

Roy Keane has mercilessly mocked an unusual pre-season exercise by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

The Spaniard has been taking his players out on restaurant meals in the weeks leading up to their first game against Wolves on Saturday, but as Gary Neville explains on The Overlap podcast, the trips have taken an ugly turn.

For Arteta has hired professional pickpockets to walk around the restaurant looking for unsuspecting soccer stars, taking phones and car keys and other valuables while the athletes eat and talk.

All of this should lead to a great reveal where the Gunners manager can point out that his team’s personal items have been stolen and that he should pay more attention next time.

Or as Neville says, “Always stay alert” – that was the message he was sending.

As Gary Neville explains on The Overlap podcast, pre-season restaurant trips for Arsenal have taken an ugly turn.

For Arteta has hired professional pickpockets to rush through the restaurant and look for unsuspecting football stars

But Roy Keane quipped: “Oh well, they’re definitely going to win the league this year”

But former Manchester United hard man Keane was less than impressed with the new way of improving footballers’ sharpness and made sure to let his team-mates know as much.

He joked: “Oh well, they’re definitely going to win the league this year,” to the amusement of Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Jill Scott.

Arsenal have had a busy pre-season on and off the pitch, signing Riccardo Calafiori and David Raya on a permanent basis and completing a tour of the USA.

They are now believed to be considering a move for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia as Aaron Ramsdale looks set for a move away from north London.

Garcia, 23, has played for Espanyol his entire career and could be ready for the next step in joining last season’s Premier League runners-up.

He played 29 games for the Spanish club in total, but only made three appearances in LaLiga. Arsenal may look to sign another goalkeeper alongside Garcia if Ramsdale leaves.

In terms of exits, Emile Smith Rowe is the only senior player to leave permanently, joining Fulham for a fee of £27m.

On the football side, Arteta said the Gunners’ heavy pre-season pressure means his side “look like” they are ready for the new campaign, reports Sky Sports.

Arsenal considering move for 23-year-old Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia (pictured)

Arsenal have had a busy pre-season on and off the pitch, signing Riccardo Calafiori

David Raya is the club’s undisputed No.1 after replacing Ramsdale when he arrived at the club last season

The north London side thrashed German champions Bayer Leverkusen 4-1, scoring twice in a minute in their penultimate game before the new year.

Meanwhile, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly excited the fans at attacking midfield and inverted left-back respectively.

They won their last pre-season outing against Lyon 2-0 and will be hoping to beat rivals Manchester City to the title this year after being relegated to second for two seasons in a row.