Arsenal in Dubai: Mikel Arteta hopeful of boost as Gunners begin UAE training camp

Premier League title chasers arrive in UAE following League Cup exit at hands of Newcastle

Arsenal train at the NAS sports complex in Dubai. Photo: X/Arsenal

Arsenal began their warm weather training camp in Dubai on Friday as they seek to bounce back from their midweek League Cup exit at Newcastle United.

The Gunners were beaten 2-0 at St James' Park as the Magpies wrapped up a 4-0 aggregate victory in their semi-final clash.

The defeat ended Arsenal's involvement in the domestic cups this season following their third round FA Cup loss at Manchester United last month, leaving them with only the Premier League and the Champions League as potential avenues to silverware.

Mikel Arteta's side currently trail league leaders Liverpool by six points, having played one game more.

In Europe, as a result of finishing third in the Champions League group phase table, they will either face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between the 13th and 14th seeds, or the 19th and 20th seeds. That means a last-16 tie against one of AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord or Juventus next month.

To get them ready for the challenges ahead, Arteta has brought his squad to the UAE for a warm weather break facilitated by their early demise in the FA Cup.

On Friday, they were pictured working on the pitches at the Nad Al Sheba sports complex, with Arteta overseeing matters and first-team stars like Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Kai Havertz among those taking part in sessions.

Arteta is hoping the trip can yield similar results to their last visit to the UAE 12 months ago.

At the start of 2024, Arsenal arrived in Dubai during the winter break in early January, and on the back of a run of just one win in seven games during which they netted only five times.

Arteta was mocked by rival fans on social media after a video was published of the Arsenal manager being fed steak by celebrity chef Salt Bae at his restaurant in the emirate.

The Gunners boss had the last laugh, however, as upon returning from the UAE his side's form rocketed with them going on an eight-game winning streak in the league, scoring 33 goals and conceding just four.

Asked if they would be trying to replicate the 2024 trip in the hope of a similar outcome, Arteta said: “There are a lot of things that will be similar. The location, where we train, but of course we will have to modify it.

“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 and hopefully it will work like it has the last few times."