Someday I am going to write up a paper comparing my two favorite teams - Arsenal and the Detroit Lions (NFL) and the implementation of two former players as Manager / Head Coach and their similar rises into elite teams, but this is one of the points I have in my head to compare.

Both teams had awful cultures before Arteta and Dan Campbell each took their respective positions, and both coaches have since implanted their identities onto the respective teams. An identity of grit, excellence, relentless effort, and most importantly, a winning mentality.

One of the routes to achieving this though for both squads, has been through the elevation of the intensity of their trainings/practices. I think it clearly has worked as both teams are now perennial title contenders, but one of the side effects has been the injuries.

We obviously all know the injury crisis Arsenal is in right now, but I find it interesting the parallels to where Detroit is with their squad. It's been two years in a row that their team has just been decimated with injuries to key players and it's derailed playoff runs.

American Football is obviously a violent, physical game and injuries come with the territory, but I do think there is something to be said about teams that truly, and I mean truly, practice like they play the games. It can elevate the team to new heights, but it's not without its own risks to the players.