Arsenal finalise plans for Dubai trip | OneFootball

Arsenal will head off to Dubai on Tuesday, with their plans for the winter break now finalised following elimination from the FA Cup.

The Mirror report that Arsenal will head off to Dubai for their warm-weather training camp on Tuesday, as the squad look to make the most of the winter break.

The Gunners are set to spend a week abroad, with all of the players’ wives, partners, families, and loved ones invited alongside the main squad.

Mikel Arteta will reportedly look to make the trip more of a holiday, aiming to keep sessions light and fun.

Arsenal will certainly not play any high-profile friendlies or do commercial activities, as those are prohibited over the winter break.

Before Arsenal’s FA Cup match against Liverpool, there was some doubt over exactly if and when the Dubai trip would go ahead, with the potential for a replay still hanging over their plans.

But with Liverpool winning the match 2-0, Arsenal don’t have a replay to think about, nor a fourth-round match later this month.

Arsenal have previously played friendlies in Dubai, but that won’t be the case this time around due to the Premier League’s rules.

The winter break being used as a training camp is perhaps not quite what the footballing authorities intended, but it’s become the norm for most top teams.

The lack of any competitive football and the break from the cold weather in England should allow the squad to relax a little before their return to action later this month.

The Gunners face Crystal Palace on Saturday, January 20th at 12:30 GMT.