Arsenal have embarked on a mid-season training camp in Dubai as a result of a clear fixture list for the next 10 days.
After what has been a hectic fixture schedule, fatigue and injuries played their part as Arsenal have now won just one of their last seven games in all competitions.
Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus are among the current absentees from the squad, and the likes of Ben White and Bukayo Saka have seen their form dip following the busy first half of the season.
The Dubai trip will allow Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff to figure out a solution to Arsenal’s goalscoring problems, with the squad set for a week of warm-weather training, whilst injured players Timber and Partey have also travelled.
Although there is no friendly game scheduled, the opportunity for a week of training in Dubai with the first team will be a good one, but young talents Myles Lewis-Skelly and Amario Cozier-Duberry do not appear to have travelled.
As per Jeorge Bird, three youngsters from the Hale End academy have made the trip in what could be a very useful week in their development: James Hillson, Charles Sagoe Jr, Mauro Bandeira, Ethan Nwaneri and Reuell Walters.
Goalkeeper James Hillson travelled with Arsenal squad to Dubai
22-year-old goalkeeper Hillson is not a well-known figure to those outside of the club, as he is yet to make the first-team squad for a game.
David Raya, Aaron Ramsdale and Karl Hein are the three main goalkeepers within the squad, and Hillson is yet to be given an opportunity ahead of any of them.
However, he has made the trip, in what could be a valuable learning experience for the goalkeeper.
Hillson has hardly featured for the under-21s, making just four appearances overall as Ovie Ejeheri and Hubert Graczyck are ahead of him in the pecking order, making his inclusion something of a surprise.
Ethan Nwaneri joins the Arsenal first team again
Nwaneri is a well-known youngster among the Arsenal fanbase, having made history to become the youngest Premier League player ever when he made an appearance off the bench against Brentford last season.
There was frustration when Nwaneri was left on the bench in Arsenal’s final Champions League group game against PSV Eindhoven, with the group already decided, but he did sign a new contract in the summer and was again on the bench for Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Liverpool.
Reuell Walters travelled to Dubai
Versatile defender Reuell Walters has regularly featured on the bench, but has never appeared for the first team, but given the injury crisis Arsenal are suffering in the back line, Arteta may use this week in Dubai to take a closer look at the 19-year-old.
Charles Sagoe Jr involved again
Winger Charles Sagoe Jr made a surprise start in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup victory over Brentford earlier this season, and is now involved again as he has been included in the travelling squad to Dubai.
Mauro Bandeira also included
Midfielder Mauro Bandeira has also travelled with the squad, having made 20 appearances for the under-21 side.
Bandeira regularly trains with the first team, and is set for further development in Dubai.
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