How a Mikel Arteta rollicking opened Auston Trusty’s eyes

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The Celtic Star

·10 April 2026

How a Mikel Arteta rollicking opened Auston Trusty’s eyes

Celtic defender Auston Trusty has spoken about a dressing-room blast from Mikel Arteta that he says proved vital in preparing him for the demands of European football…

Before sealing a move to Sheffield United, the USA international spent part of 2023 with Arsenal during their pre-season tour in the United States. Trusty featured in a commanding 5-0 win over the MLS All-Stars in Washington, D.C.

However, despite the big win, the 27-year-old revealed in an interview with Goal.com that the mood inside the camp was far from happy. Arteta criticised the team’s performance in blunt terms after the match, delivering a message that left a lasting impression on the Hoops defender.

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Trusty said: “I remember we won 5-0 and Arteta was so mad at us. He was so mad at the team. He thought guys weren’t trying. That’s when I knew the level was different.

“This was an MLS All-Star game, a preseason friendly. The fact that we won 5-0 and still had things that we were screamed at for in that game? Arteta said we weren’t trying.

“It’s a whole different mindset, and that was my first experience of, ‘Whoa, this is a different culture’.”

Trusty added: “Growing up close to Philadelphia, I had to beg my friends to play soccer. If you weren’t close to me, you probably didn’t even know I played.”

Auston Trusty. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

“When I signed pro, people didn’t even know I played. People knew me as a basketball and baseball guy. I didn’t tell them because soccer was never the topic, and people didn’t really care. They just cared about basketball stories.”

“There was no pathway. No academy stars had done it before. I was an example of how to do it.”

Trusty returned to the Celtic starting XI on Sunday at Dens Park where Martin O’Neill’s side pulled themselves right back into the title race.

Conor Spence

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