OneFootball
Lewis Ambrose·7 December 2022
OneFootball
Lewis Ambrose·7 December 2022
With the World Cup now down to the quarter-final stage, it is less than three weeks until the Premier League is back underway. EFL Cup games are even closer. But before all that, mini pre-seasons are taking place all over the globe.
Arsenal have travelled for a warm weather training camp and the Dubai Super Cup, where they will play Lyon on 8 December and Milan on 13 December before returning to London.
The Gunners will then host Juventus in a friendly at the Emirates Stadium on 17 December before returning to competitive action on Boxing Day.
It’s Premier League opposition for Villa, who face Brighton (8 December) and Chelsea (11 December) abroad before heading home to host Unai Emery’s ex-club Villarreal at Villa Park on 15 December.
Bournemouth are currently in Dubai and, according to Dorset Live, played Royal Antwerp on Sunday and have two more fixtures lined up in the UK, but no details on those games have emerged at all.
Currently in Spain, Brentford are yet to announce any friendlies.
Brighton are in Dubai for a week and will face Aston Villa on 8 December but no further fixtures have been announced before they return to action to face Charlton on 21 December in the EFL Cup.
Other than the 11 December game against Aston Villa, Chelsea have not announced any other fixtures and do not play again competitively until 27 December.
Crystal Palace have already returned to action, drawing with Botafogo on Saturday.
A match against Trabzonspor is underway on Wednesday before games against Napoli (11 December) in Turkey and Real Valladolid (16 December) at Selhurst Park.
Everton travelled to Australia in November to draw 0-0 with Celtic and win 5-1 against Western Sydney Wanderers. No games for December have been announced.
It’s off to Portugal for Fulham but the only game they have announced will take place at Craven Cottage against West Ham on 17 December.
Already in Spain, Leeds will face Elche on Thursday 8 December before heading home and hosting Real Sociedad (16 December) and AS Monaco (21 December) at Elland Road.
A training camp in Abu Dhabi will be followed by behind closed doors friendlies against unnamed opposition.
Liverpool are in Dubai where, like Arsenal, they will play in the Dubai Super Cup. But the Premier League clubs will not face each other. The Reds meet Lyon on 11 December and Milan five days later before returning home to take on Manchester City in the EFL Cup on 22 December.
Manchester City have the most players of any Premier League club at the World Cup but have announced plans to play Girona in Manchester on 17 December.
Already in Spain, Manchester United will take on Cadíz on Wednesday evening and Real Betis on 10 December before returning home.
Newcastle are in Saudi Arabia and will play Al-Hilal on Thursday 8 December before returning home and hosting Rayo Vallecano on 17 December.
After defeat behind closed doors against Atromitos on Tuesday, Forest will play Olympiacos on Saturday 10 December and then Valencia on Friday 16 December.
Little is known about Southampton’s preparations for the restart, with the club yet to confirm any trips or matches.
Antonio Conte has confirmed a warm-weather training camp and Tottenham will play Motherwell behind closed doors on Friday 9 December before playing Nice at home on Wednesday 14 December.
6 v Cambridge
They will travel to Italy to play Udinese on 10 December before returning to London and meeting Fulham at Craven Cottage on 17 December.
New man in charge Julen Lopetegui will take charge of a training camp in his native Spain, where Wolves will play Empoli on 9 December.