Arsenal are putting plans into place to jet off on a mid-season break with the hopes of reigniting their season once again.
It comes after the Gunners suffered double cup heartbreak over the past week, falling to defeat at the hands of Newcastle in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, before losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup.
With injuries now piling up for Arsenal and a Premier League title push in severe doubt, the mood from the fanbase appears pretty low.
An upcoming North London Derby could help spur some change, but another tactic for Mikel Arteta could transform the rest of the campaign.
Arsenal plan for mid-season break after Dubai success
One of the silver linings to come out of losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup is a free weekend slot in early February.
With no Premier League action over the week, the only thing that could scupper their blank week may be the Champions League.
If Arsenal don’t finish in the top eight, then they will have to play two extra games, starting with one in early February.
If they do squeeze into those top rankings, then the Gunners will have a clearer schedule to work with as they get an automatic place into the latter rounds.
With last season seeing a trip to Dubai to help the players mid-season, coming with plenty of success, Mikel Arteta was asked about a potential repeat.
He told the press, before the North London Derby against Tottenham: “Yeah, we are looking now, this is gone so how can we optimise the situation using the best possible way so we’re looking at options.
“I think the calendar and the fixtures are depending on what happens with the Champions League as well so we are looking and trying to plan the options.”
Given the relentless nature of the fixture list, it’s a time when Arsenal could make the most out of a break away from the club’s surroundings.
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Arsenal break could help reignite season charge
Plenty of times this season, Mikel Arteta has referenced having to play every three days, which could be seen as a reason for the downturn in form.
Add to that the injury problems and the 31 matches already completed at just the halfway stage and it underlines the challenges facing a modern manager.
For Arsenal to be knocked out of the FA Cup is no good thing, but the silver lining of a break may be exactly what the side needs.
Last season’s trip to Dubai saw a run of form that almost captured the league title that came agonisingly close.
Speaking at the time, Arteta said: “It was great, it was a phenomenal camp in every sense.
“We worked really hard on things that we wanted to do, and we recharged our batteries. The context and the change in environment in beautiful weather helped, and the togetherness and the moments that we shared together were great. We feel fully recharged.”
With form improving, Arsenal will be hoping a potential repeat could see them end the season on a high with a chance of silverware.
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