Arteta-McVay Meeting That Changed the Rams’ Season. A year ago, Sean McVay felt lost. His team had just suffered a tough home defeat. The Rams’ playoff hopes looked weak. The pressure was heavy on him. Within one day, everything shifted. Mikel Arteta visited the Rams’ training facility during football’s international break. What started as a casual chat soon became a deep two-hour talk.
Sean McVay later said that conversation cleared his mind. Rams president Kevin Demoff said that Arteta lifted McVay out of a bad emotional space. After that moment, the Rams won six of their next seven games. They took the NFC West title. McVay felt renewed and ready again. Demoff still credits Arteta for giving the coach fresh energy at the perfect time.
Arteta, McVay and Bond Built on Shared Leadership Values
The Arteta-McVay connection is more than a friendly visit. It shows how two leaders from two different sports can shape each other. Both men work under the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) group. KSE owns Arsenal and the Rams, along with other American teams. This helps both coaches meet often and share ideas.
KSE trusted both men early. McVay became Rams head coach at 30. Arteta took over Arsenal at 37. Both stepped into huge jobs with bold ideas. And both used strong values to lead their clubs. McVay admired Arteta’s handling of big moments, especially the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang issue shown in Arsenal’s “All or Nothing” series. He said he wasn’t sure he could have made the same hard decisions.
Their bond grew through talks on culture, communication, trust, and team building. They don’t discuss tactics. They discuss people. Arteta says it best: “It’s not only about the sport. It’s about the culture and the desire to learn.”
The Arteta-McVay Philosophy at KSE: Develop, Trust, Grow
Across KSE clubs, the same idea repeats: grow young talent, trust your leaders, and build for the long term. That idea links the Rams, Arsenal, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Colorado Rapids.
Arsenal show this through players like Bukayo Saka, who became a global star under Arteta. The Rams do the same with draft picks like Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner. The Nuggets used this long-term plan to build around Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. Arsenal CEO Richard Garlick says the club has had a clear plan since 2021. Arteta also says the Kroenkes want the same thing every season: to win big trophies.
Arteta McVay Exchange of Ideas and Tech Between Arsenal and the Rams
Another strong part of the Arteta-McVay relationship is the sharing of ideas. More than ten years ago, the Rams saw Arsenal using advanced tracking technology. They adopted it and soon recorded the fewest injuries in the NFL.
Later, when Arteta visited the Rams’ facility, he noticed a huge number of cameras filming training. He liked the detail and took the idea back to Arsenal’s London Colney base. Because both clubs work under KSE, they share ideas freely. There is no fear of giving away secrets. Both sides want to improve.
Both managers’ influence on the global growth of Arsenal and the Rams
The Arteta-McVay link also supports both clubs off the field. The Rams have grown their international games. Arsenal are now huge in the United States, and their fanbase grows each year. KSE wants both clubs to rise together. They work on joint tours, shared marketing, and regular staff exchanges.
Kroenke Signature Properties (KSP), created this year, also helps connect partners in the UK and the US. The goal is simple: grow revenue, expand reach, and keep both clubs stable under financial rules like the Premier League’s PSR system.
Author’s Insight
For two teams fighting at the top of their sports, this bond feels bigger than strategy.
When Arteta and McVay trade ideas, it’s two minds finding strength in each other’s stories.
Their connection shows that real progress begins when leaders choose to grow together.
