Blasting background noise during a training session appears to be an Arsenal manager trait.
On the men's side, Mikel Arteta famously subjected his players to loud renditions of "You'll Never Walk Alone" to prepare for a trip to Anfield a few years ago. His counterpart on the women's side has been following suit.
During an open training session at the Emirates last week, Arsenal Women boss Renee Slegers brought out the speakers to simulate the level of crowd noise her players can expect in the season ahead.
Arsenal will play all 13 of their Women's Super League (WSL) home matches at the Emirates this season. Their average home attendance of 33,808 last season was higher than that of eight Premier League teams and made up a staggering 41.2% of WSL attendance for the season. Such crowds are still anomalous in women's football and the decibel levels will take some getting used to for the seven new signings Arsenal have made this summer.
Among the new arrivals is Spanish defender Ona Batlle, who joined from serial Spanish champions Barcelona. In an exclusive interview with ESPN from the Emirates stands, she spoke of her excitement about her new home.
"It's such an honor to be fair. It's a huge stadium, loads of history for the club. I'm very happy, very excited to actually be playing, being on the field with the crowd, feeling them as part of the club now," she said.
"It's a huge club and, as it's been seen, there's loads of fans coming and supporting us. Something that I'm very, very excited to feel, to experience. I think it's something very unique."
The Gunners begin their season away to Brighton on Sunday, so Batlle has to wait until the following weekend for her home debut. But, she has already been warmly received by fans in preseason and said she hopes they have forgotten her Manchester United past.
Batlle spent three years at United during her first stint in the league. Her decision to move to England in 2020 was a bold one, considering she was only 21 and didn't speak English at the time. She was also one of the only Spanish players in the league.
"I think it [WSL] has just grown so much since I joined. Actually when I joined, it was like 2020, I remember it was not even known. It was not even big in England," she said.
United entered the top flight only in 2019 and Batlle was integral to helping the club establish themselves there. She was voted their Player of the Year in her debut campaign and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in the next two seasons. She also won the PFA WSL Fans' Player of the Year in the 2022-23 season.
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After cementing her reputation as one of the league's best defenders, Batlle decided against renewing her contract and signed for reigning Champions League winners Barcelona. She quickly embedded herself into the side that won two further European titles, the most recent of which came this May. Not long after that triumph in Oslo, the Catalan sealed a move to Arsenal.
So would it be fair to say she's someone who can't be in a comfort zone for too long?
"Yes, I am that kind of person. When I feel like there is something else that I can prove, I try, prove myself and just not get too comfortable and just try another step forward or another different thing," she said.
"So I think that would describe me very well. It was the best time to come back to England, play in the best league against really big good clubs, very good opponents.
"You have the league and then you have to play in the Champions League. You have to perform very well every weekend. I do feel like as a defender, I want to have those challenges every weekend and I think that's what motivates me as much as trying to help the team perform well and go forward."
Arsenal are all too aware of the difficulties of the WSL as they search for their first title since 2019. Their squad overhaul this summer has been driven by this quest and has seen the departures of long-serving players like Beth Mead, Victoria Pelova and Manuela Zinsberger. But perhaps the most surprising exit was that of Katie McCabe, who signed for Chelsea after 11 years at the club.
Filling the shoes of a beloved player isn't an easy task but it isn't something that daunts Batlle.
"I don't really feel any pressure. I just like to enjoy myself. Of course, players like Katie have been amazing, have been legends for the club and I do have loads of respect for her," she said.
"But as I said, I don't have any pressure to come here. I joined to try to add what I can add to the game, to the club, to the history, to our team. And yeah, I'm just going to try my best."
Batlle's assimilation at Arsenal has been aided by the presence of former teammates like Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo. She and Russo joined United in the same year, and she spoke of the pride she felt at seeing the England international develop into "one of the best No. 9s in the world."
Interestingly, Batlle spoke to neither player before deciding on a move to Arsenal. The conversation didn't go beyond her agent and family. Her brother, in particular, was especially happy with her choice as he was a huge fan of another player who once traded Barcelona for Arsenal -- Cesc Fabregas. Batlle recalls picking Arsenal in their FIFA matches because of the Spanish midfielder and spoke of the affinity she has for the No. 4 jersey.
It's something she has mentioned to Georgia Stanway, the current holder of the number. Like Battle, Stanway, too, was a high-profile addition at Arsenal this summer. Given their experience and trophy hauls, the two will help fill some of the leadership void at the club following all the departures.
"I've never seen myself as a leader, to be fair," Batlle said.
"I like to talk and to organize, especially on the pitch. I like to express myself. Maybe I can, and I think I have been doing that, but I don't know. I just never would say that I feel like a leader."
Perhaps, leadership will be one of the things that takes Batlle out of her comfort zone at Arsenal. It's exactly how she wants it.
