As the World Cup comes around it's time for the Premier League to take a pause. After nine matches in the month of October alone, it has been a pretty hectic start to the season for Arsenal and they will be enjoying a much deserved rest.
Mikel Arteta and his players who aren't travelling to Qatar are going to be given 10 days off before they begin preparations for the resumption of football again with a friendly at London Colney against Watford. They will then fly out to Dubai for some warm weather training and fixtures against Lyon and AC Milan before returning to north London to host a Spanish side that could be Barcelona.
Far from just sitting back and relaxing, though, Arteta will be hoping to use the following six weeks before his side's next Premier League match against West Ham on Boxing Day productively. Here football.london takes a look at what he could be getting up to.
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Plan January transfer window
One thing that has become clear despite Arsenal's excellent start to the season, is that they could do with a bit of depth in the side. The Gunners have shocked everyone with their title charge, but injuries to key players like Thomas Partey or Gabriel Jesus and that could come crumbling down. As a result, Arteta has already admitted that he and Edu could be active in January.
"Of course we can improve the team, we will always be looking to do that as a club," the Spaniard said this month. "I don't know [if we will be busy in January], this window is so unpredictable. Especially with the World Cup in the middle. We will have a look, we will try to get the squad stronger and we will be active because you don't know what's going to happen in that World Cup, but touch wood they will all be OK."
Arteta may look to use the next few weeks to scout Mykhaylo Mudryk with a bit more depth while Facundo Torres has also been mentioned as a potential arrival. football.london understands the Gunners could go back in for midfielder Danilo in January, while Evan Ndicka is another player who has linked to bolster the backline.
Get Emile Smith Rowe fit
Of course one way to increase depth in the Arsenal squad is getting players already at the club fit again. When you think about what the Gunners have done this season it's remarkable to remember that they've been without Emile Smith Rowe for almost all of it.
The 22-year-old was the Gunners second highest scorer last season, and if you add his goal threat into the pot that is nicely simmering in north London, then you've got one heck of a mix. He has been out since September after having surgery on a groin problem and the hope is that he'll back after the World Cup. That is not confirmed yet although Smith Rowe is still in and around the club and being kept involved where possible by Arteta who is desperate to have him back.
"After surgery it is very difficult to give a timeline," the Spaniard said of the Hale Ender's recovery time in September. "It depends on the first process, how the bones heal, how was his first reaction, his improvement and how he’s adapting. We need to go step by step; obviously we know that before the World Cup will not be easy, and after that we have a break and we need to use him in the right way."
Have a look at the academy
With the amount of games he's had to deal with, Mikel Arteta has probably found it tough to keep a regular eye on the academy this season. The Spaniard attended two matches at the start of the campaign, but has not been seen at Meadow Park since then.
What he's been missing is the tremendous work that Mehmet Ali has done since taking over from Kevin Betsy in the summer. His Under-21s side sit top of the Premier League 2 and after having largely neglected to promote players from that set up so far this season, the training camp in Dubai could be a great opportunity for these youngsters.
The names to keep an eye out for are right-back Reuell Walters, who impressed on the preseason tour of America in the summer, and 17-year-old left-back Lino Sousa, who has turned a few heads this winter. Amario Cozier-Duberry and Catalin Cirijan have both on the bench in Europa League matches as well, while goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk could one to watch with Matt Turner and Aaron Ramsdale away at the World Cup.
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