Kiwi 'Anti-Choke' Mental Skills Expert Signs on with Arsenal

Despite currently sitting second on the Premier League table, Arsenal have turned to New Zealand to find the edge in English football this year.

The London club have signed up well-known Kiwi sports psychiatrist Dr Ceri Evans to work as their new mental skills specialist.

Dr Evans, 53, has worked with New Zealand's most highest profile teams and athletes over the last decade, including the All Blacks, New Zealand Warriors NRL side and boxer Joseph Parker, who recently won the WBO heavyweight title.

His relationship with ex-ABs skipper Richie McCaw is well-documented, with the mental skills master playing a major role in the recent McCaw documentary 'Chasing Great.'

CHASING GREAT, BUT THE CORPORATE DOLLAR TOO: THE RICHIE MCCAW STORY

In addition to his work with Kiwi sportspeople, he has also worked with F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Dr Evans himself is no stranger to football. An highly accomplished defender, he claimed 53 caps for New Zealand between 1980 and 1993 as well as playing 116 times for Oxford United between 1989 and 1994.

He was once even linked to sign with Arsenal during this period, when he was also studying at Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar. Dr Evans also enjoyed spells at Marlow and Aberystwyth Town in the mid-1990s.

An interview with Dr Ceri Evans, the Arsenal-bound Kiwi sports psychiatrist. Source: Youtube.

The Independent reported that Dr Evans specialized in working on an "anti-choke mechanism, which seeks to offer his clients a way of dealing with intense pressure and high stakes".

Amongst others at Arsenal, Dr Evans will be working with German playmaker Mesut Ozil, Chilean striker Alexi Sanchez and English forward Danny Welback to help propel the Gunners to the top of the league.