In preparation for every game, Arsene Wenger gives his players a motivational handout that helps to focus his team on the task ahead. A copy of the handout was found in a Bolton hotel for this past weekend’s 3-1 win by Arsenal at the Reebok Stadium. Here’s a transcript of what the handout said:

Confidential

Team meeting 19th September 2008

The Team:

A team is as strong as the relationships within it.

The driving force of a team is its member’s ability to create and maintain excellent relationships within the team that can add an extra dimension and robustness to the team dynamic.

This attitude can be used by our team to focus on the gratitude and the vitally impor tant benefits that the team brings to our own lives. It can be used to strengthen and deepen the relationships within it and ma ximise the oppor tunities that await a strong and united team.

Our team becomes stronger by:

Displaying a positive attitude on and off the pitch

Everyone making the right decisions for the team

Have an unshakeable belief that we can achieve our target

Believe in the strength of the team

Always want more – always give more

Focus on our communication

Be demanding with yourself

Be fresh and well prepared to win

Focus on being mentally stronger and always keep going to the end

When we play away from home, believe in our identity and play the football we love to play at home

Stick together

Stay grounded and humble as a player and as a person

Show the desire to win in all that you do

Enjoy and contribute to all that is special about being in a team – don’t take it for granted.