Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is looking to hit the ground running when his team land back in the UK in the coming days.
After bowing out of the Carabao Cup at the semifinal stage, and already being eliminated from the FA Cup, the Gunners had a fixture gap from February 5 to 15.
Arteta opted to repeat his trick of a mid-season trip to Dubai for a training camp and a chance to allow his squad refuel for the campaign run-in.
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In January 2024, Arteta and his players headed to Dubai following a run of one win in seven games. On their return, they kickstarted a streak of eight consecutive league wins, scoring 33 goals and conceding just four.
Arteta will be hoping the familiar surroundings can trigger a repeat reaction with the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League his only focuses for now – with a return in the latter not due until early March.
League clashes with Leicester City, West Ham United and high-flying Nottingham Forest are on the schedule first and Ben White is closing in on a return to action for Arteta.
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White joined the travelling party to Dubai as he enters into the final stages of recovery after knee surgery in November.
Arteta’s first-choice right-back has missed a chunk of the campaign and reports from the Evening Standard indicate he is taking a full part in training in Dubai.
The 27-year-old is targeting game time against Leicester this weekend as his fitness builds up.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is also in line to return before the end of the month but Gabriel Martinelli needs more tests ahead of the trip to the King Power Stadium.
Bukayo Saka joined the squad on their trip, but the England international is not due back until April, after undergoing a procedure on a persistent hamstring issue.
