We may only be edging towards the end of the World Cup group stage, but Premier League teams have already started their preparations ahead of its resumption on Boxing Day.
Arsenal's players not out on Qatar began returning to London Colney with the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel and Cedric all taking part in training sessions. It is understood that they will play one warm up friendly before travelling out to Dubai on Sunday. While out in the Middle East the Gunners will take part in warm weather training sessions and play two friendlies against AC Milan and Lyon as part of the Dubai Super Cup.
As things stand many of Arsenal's first team players appear set to progress to the latter stages of the World Cup in Qatar, meaning they are unlikely to be present for these matches. With that in mind Mikel Arteta is likely to bring several youngsters on tour with him to Dubai. Names like Matt Smith and Catalin Cirijan who have been in and around the senior set up at Arsenal for a while seem likely to travel, and here football.london takes an in-depth look at some of the others who could make the journey out.
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Reuell Walters:
As the only academy player brought on the first team's preseason tour to America, Reuell Walters is someone who Mikel Arteta knows plenty about. The 17-year-old is highly rated within the Arsenal academy and can play anywhere across the backline, despite primarily being a right back.
This defensive solidity and versatility is what impressed Arteta, but when you speak to sources at the academy, it's Walters' mentality that stands out the most. Despite the fact that he will not turn 18 till just after the Gunners return from their trip to Dubai he's been able to take the opportunities that have come his way with Arsenal so far in his stride, and he'll be looking to continue his impressive trajectory.
It's worth pointing out that Walters has struggled with an injury that kept him out of the early months of the season. Since recovering from that though he has been a regular in Mehmet Ali's table-topping under-21s side and with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White still out in Qatar, he seems like someone who could get another chance to impress.
Lino Sousa
Lino Sousa was not selected in the Europa League squad for the group stages, but the fact that Mikel Arteta still wanted to bring him along to the early season trip to FC Zurich is a sign of how highly he is rated by the Arsenal boss. He came very close to joining the preseason camp that travelled to the USA after impressing with his workrate in the Gunners first preseason training camp in Nurenberg.
Throughout that spell in Germany Sousa and his close friend Walters both woke each other up early to go for runs before training as a sign of their commitment. Like Walters, he is only 17 and highly praised for the mature head he has on such young shoulders by academy staff.
What may count against Sousa is that both Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko are set to be available to travel to Dubai given that neither Scotland nor Ukraine have qualified for the World Cup. The England under-18 international may still be part of the travelling party though, and his ability to invert and play in central spaces will be something Arteta is a fan of.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
When Zinedine Zidane headbutted Marco Matterazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, Myles Lewis-Skelly hadn't even been born yet. 16 years on and the young midfielder has already been training with Mikel Arteta's first team during sessions at London Colney this week.
The youngster has been impressing with Jack Wilshere's under-18s for the most part this season, but has been given some game time in Mehmet Ali's 21s team also. As is often the case since Per Mertesacker took over at the helm of the Arsenal academy, the Gunners are keen to manage the young midfielder's load carefully, but his exciting displays are proving difficult to ignore.
Arsenal are short at central midfield with both Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka away in Qatar. Academy staff speak incredibly highly of Lewis-Skelly and the 16-year-old could be one to make the trip out to Dubai.
Ethan Nwaneri
If you felt old reading about Myles Lewis-Skelly, then just wait till you hear about Ethan Nwaneri. Having said that, there can't be too many who aren't aware of the 15-year-old since he made his record breaking debut for Arsenal against Brentford earlier this season.
Since then Arsenal's academy staff have been keen to manage his load very carefully, playing him occasionally in the 18s and sometimes in the 21s, while also giving him further opportunities to train with the first team. Nwaneri is still figuring himself out as a player so it's difficult to say where his best position will be, but one thing that we can say for certain is that Mikel Arteta is a fan.
It's worth noting that Arsenal are keen to wade off interest from Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool as they seek to tie Nwaneri's long-term future down once he's old enough to sign a professional deal. With that in mind taking him out to Dubai might be a sensible move as they continue the charm offensive.
Amario Cozier-Duberry
Yet another 17-year-old making strides for the under-21s this season, Amario Cozier-Duberry is certainly one who could make the journey to Dubai. The Hale Ender is already on Mikel Arteta's radar after being part of the squad that travelled to FC Zurich on matchday one of the Europa League.
Since then he's been performing well in a number of different positions for the 21s, operating on either side as a winger or as a eight. The former of these positions could be particularly useful as Arteta seeks to make up for the absence of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
The England under-17 international is a close dribbler who is capable of dealing with physical tests despite his relatively diminutive stature. Don't be surprised to see him out in Dubai.
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