The World Cup comes at a frustrating time for Arsenal who currently sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table having dropped points in just two games this season. Mikel Arteta has 10 of his stars fly in Qatar, with others involved in non-competitive action with their nations.
The Arsenal players are due to then fly to Dubai to take part in the city’s mid-season tournament which contains Liverpool, Lyon and AC Milan. Mikel Arteta was very upbeat about the future trip and spoke of the benefits of choosing their familiar destination.
“It’s an easy trip as one of the biggest sponsors we have in Emirates is part of it, plus we’ve been there and know the facilities and it’s a really good environment to work," he said.
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“The weather is spectacular and then the World Cup is so close, so for any player that is around there, it is so easy to get them back straight away. I think it ticks all the boxes that we need.
“We need good preparation mentally and physically to be ready for the huge demands that the second part of the season is going to bring to the team. We have two great games against Lyon and Milan and we are really looking forward to it. They’re two big clubs and it’ll be tough competition, and for us, it’s a great test to see where we are.”
This familiarity benefits the Gunners in more than just nostalgic surroundings. The last time Arsenal returned from a break in the Middle East, the response from the Spaniard’s players was significant.
Arsenal managed to go on a run, winning six of the first seven Premier League games after their return. Back-to-back wins home and away to Wolves, beating Brentford at home, winning away at Watford, a comfortable victory at the Emirates Stadium against Leicester and a statement 1-0 win away at Aston Villa – split by the 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool.
This run followed a difficult January in which Arsenal were knocked out of two competitions and failed to win a single game. Although Arsenal go into this break in good form, their title credentials have been tested with some tricky October tests away at Leeds United and Southampton.
Picking up four points from the challenging trips proved key, especially when on the final weekend of the domestic season before the World Cup Manchester City lost to Brentford. The draw to Saints occurred during the same weekend that several ‘Big Six’ rivals also dropped points and was seen as Arsenal failing to prove they could take advantage of opportunities in this unique season.
However, the five-point gap that has since opened has perhaps earned them greater respect from more critics. The return from the World Cup will be something all sides will be judged upon, but it could be that Arsenal face greater scrutiny than most, especially if something should happen to any key components of their side whilst away.
With games against West Ham, Brighton, Newcastle, Manchester United and Tottenham to come, if a similar response to the last return from Dubai can be repeated, the Premier League table could lean even more favourably in Arsenal’s direction. It remains, however, completely unpredictable how Arsenal and their rivals will emerge from this most odd of winters.
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