Arsène Wenger has fired a warning shot to Mikel Arteta, urging his former captain not to let artificial intelligence run the show as Arsenal chase Premier League glory.
The legendary Frenchman admits AI could be a “powerful tool” in Arsenal’s title fight but fears the tech revolution could backfire if Arteta leans on it too much.
Arteta made headlines last week after revealing that artificial intelligence has become part of his pre-match preparation, helping analyse data, assess performances, and plan tactics.
“It’s a tool that is super powerful if you use it in the right way and you ask the right questions,” Arteta said speaking to BeinSports. “It’s in use already for many things that can help not just a team but an organisation as well.”
The Arsenal boss added that AI could help the club “understand ourselves better and evaluate what we do,” hinting that the Gunners are ready to take tech-driven analysis to new heights.
But Wenger, who built his Arsenal legacy on intelligence of the human kind, urged caution.
“It can help to make better decisions,” he admitted. “AI has a fantastic quality; it can absorb millions of different situations and give you an answer in one second.”
Then came the warning.
“AI can say something and the personality of a coach can say that’s wrong,” Wenger stressed. “As long as the human being keeps control and authority, you can use any scientific tool. But it’s dangerous if science dominates the decisions.”
Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland may have ended their eight-game clean sheet streak, but they still sit four points clear of Manchester City after a 14-match unbeaten run.
Still, Wenger’s message is crystal clear, data can help, but it can’t replace gut instinct.
As Arsenal return from the international break, Arteta’s challenge isn’t just keeping City at bay, it’s making sure the robots don’t call the shots.
