FORGET Newcastle. Forget Wembley – Mikel Arteta hopes a trip to Dubai will yet again do the trick for Arsenal.
Still licking their wounds from a St James’ Park mauling in the Carabao Cup semi-finals the night before, the Gunners boarded a plane on Thursday morning for more mid-season winter sun.
Arsenal are heading back to Dubai on their latest mid-season training camp[/caption]
The Gunners have used the trip to get their season back on track in the past[/caption]
They will train at the Nad Al Sheba Training Centre[/caption]
The team headed out following the Carabao Cup exit to Newcastle[/caption]
The players appeared in good spirits despite the disappointing defeat[/caption]
Bukayo Saka has joined the travelling party as he eyes a return[/caption]
It has become a tradition of recent years for Arteta to take his squad to the Middle East – helped by early exits in the FA Cup – to recharge the batteries after a gruelling festive period and prepare for the final push.
Last season – following a run of one win in seven in all competitions from December 9, 2023 to January 7, 2024 – Arsenal jetted off to Dubai for some much-needed soul-searching and vitamin D.
They ended that campaign with 16 wins from their final 18 Premier League games, pipped to the title on the final day by Manchester City.
This term fits the narrative too, Arsenal beginning 2025 with one win in five in all competitions and have been knocked out of two cups before February has really got going.
Eleven games in 36 days has left the squad on its knees.
When the group touch back down in London on Tuesday, a flick needs to be switched if they are to go one better in the Prem and chase down Liverpool’s six-point lead having played a game more than the Reds.
Perfection will also be needed to go further than the last 16 in the Champions League next month, a tough ask from a paper-thin squad following Arsenal’s failure to recruit a forward in January.
Arteta likes consistency and familiarity in these Dubai trips, so Arsenal will be at the same training centre as last year – the Nad Al Sheba (NAS) sports complex.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
It is a regular spot for Prem players during the off-season as well as for intense rehab sessions, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and Tyrone Mings.
Arsenal’s sessions will involve high-intensity bursts and individual muscular conditioning programmes in average temperatures ranging from 22 to 27 degrees.
It also gives a chance for injured players to step up their rehab – crocked duo Bukayo Saka (hamstring) and Ben White (knee) will be on the trip with returns expected within the next month.
Arsenal usually stay in hotels near the famous Dubai Palm, with club officials previously raving over having everything at their doorstep away from training, including shopping malls and restaurants.
Arteta recently explained: “Of course we will have to modify [the trip]. There are a lot of things that will be very similar. Location, where we are staying, where we train.
“But we are going at a different moment of the season, different numbers, probably the team needs a different stimulus, so we are preparing a few things.
“Hopefully it will work like it has the last few times.”
Families and close friends will be allowed to mix with the group throughout the camp.
Last year, Arteta organised a BBQ for the group and staff as a bonding session.
The NAS complex has been used by some of world’s top athletes[/caption]
Arsenal have gone to Dubai in each of the last few seasons[/caption]
The trip will be very similar from previous years[/caption]
Diogo Dalot made use of the extensive gym[/caption]
Jadon Sancho honed his boxing skills on his visit[/caption]
Novak Djokovic proved it is suitable for any sports star[/caption]
There is a running track around one of the Fifa-level pitches[/caption]
Arteta also likes to integrate academy players in the training squad.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, used the 2024 trip well, and is now a regular first-team player.
This time around, highly-rated 15-year-old Max Dowman and 16-year-old keeper Jack Porter – who made his senior debut in the Carabao Cup third round against Bolton – have been included.
Most importantly, Arteta needs to keep his players fit, especially Kai Havertz – the German international is the club’s only fit centre forward at the club with Gabriel Jesus out for the rest of the season with an ACL rupture.
However, there are now concerns over Gabriel Martinelli.
The Brazilian winger has had an MRI scan on his right hamstring after hobbling off in the first half of their 2-0 Toon defeat.
Back in November, Arteta admitted he had no idea why Dubai has such a positive impact on his squad, and joked if Las Vegas produced the same results, he would send his players there.
The Middle East roulette wheel has been spun once more. Where will it land this time?
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.
Raheem Sterling is making his first winter training camp trip with Arsenal[/caption]
Max Dowman is heading to the Middle East at just 15[/caption]
Jack Porter, 16, made his first-team debut against Bolton earlier this season[/caption]
Declan Rice was at the thick of the fun in 2024[/caption]
Youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri go this year as first-team regulars[/caption]
Lewis-Skelly in action during the December 2022 visit[/caption]
The warm weather provides a welcome change from the British winter[/caption]
The NAS complex has all the facilities needed for the Gunners[/caption]
Mikel Arteta will hope it can provide a timely boost[/caption]
Workouts can be done out in the sunshine[/caption]
Ben White will hope he can use the few days in Dubai as part of his rehab[/caption]
Discover more from World Byte News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
