Mikel Arteta abruptly ended a press conference with laughter and Christmas wishes after being jokingly asked if there was a specific reason behind the recent surge of pregnancies among his Arsenal players.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left momentarily speechless and eventually walked out of a press conference following a light-hearted but unexpected line of questioning regarding his players’ personal lives.
The incident occurred as the Gunners prepared for their festive schedule, with several stars recently celebrating the arrival of newborns or announcing pregnancies.
A journalist noted that Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz had performed “baby” goal celebrations, while Martin Odegaard’s partner was also expecting.
The reporter posed a cheeky 14-word question to the Spaniard:
“Is there anything you need to tell us about what you’re giving the players?” The query, referencing the high number of expectant fathers in the Arsenal squad, caught the typically serious manager off guard.
Arteta could only respond with laughter at the suggestion of a secret team “supplement” before deciding to bring the media session to an immediate and abrupt conclusion.
Despite the swift departure, the atmosphere remained jovial as the Arsenal boss maintained his composure.
Before leaving the room without answering the question, he offered a friendly seasonal parting gift to the gathered media.
“Merry Christmas, have a great one for you and your family! Thank you so much!” Arteta said, making a graceful exit while ensuring the focus remained on the holiday spirit rather than the personal query.