The Premier League will only see 10 teams play over this weekend but Arsenal are not one of the clubs in action as Mikel Arteta takes his Gunners on a winter break to Dubai.
A 1-1 draw between Burnley and Luton Town kicked off the latest set of top-flight fixtures on Friday night. While Chelsea meet Fulham and Newcastle United host Manchester City in this Saturday’s matches. Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham play on Sunday.
Results, therefore, could even see Arsenal fall out of the top four by the time that Arteta’s XI next lines up at Emirates Stadium. The north London giants will not contest another Premier League game until facing Crystal Palace. The Eagles will leave south London on January 20.
Why Arsenal are not playing this weekend
Arsenal currently sit fourth in the Premier League table after their 20th game of the 2023/24 season. They only have 40 points to trail leaders Liverpool, who are also now on their winter break, by five points. Rivals Tottenham sit in fifth place after their 20th game with 39 points.
Arteta had overseen 50 points over Arsenal’s first 20 games of the 2022/23 season to sit top of the table. The Gunners will now hope to return from Dubai refreshed and ready to revive their title hope. But what is the winter break and why are Arsenal not playing this weekend?
What is the Premier League’s winter break?
The Premier League first introduced a winter break in January 2020 to afford its 20 teams a one-week mid-season break. But the Covid-19 pandemic plus the timing of the 2022 Qatar World Cup meant the winter break did not return to the schedule until the 2023/24 season.
It is designed to help reduce the stress of the ever-expanding football calendar by giving the 20 top-flight teams a week off. The Premier League splits the winter break across two weeks in January with 10 sides playing in each. Arsenal are one of the 10 not playing this weekend.
Arteta has taken Arsenal to Dubai for their winter break for a warm-weather training camp. The Gunners will return to north London on Tuesday, January 16 to prepare for their derby with Crystal Palace. It also offers any players dealing with an injury a chance to rehabilitate.
Arsenal were without Gabriel Jesus against Liverpool in the FA Cup on January 7 in their last fixture, for example. He felt discomfort in the same knee the striker originally injured at the World Cup. But Arsenal now hope to have Jesus back from his injury against Crystal Palace.
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