Arsenal’s first training video from Dubai suggests one star could be unearthed as Mikel Arteta’s secret weapon

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Arsenal are currently in Dubai for a warm weather training camp as Mikel Arteta looks to galvanise his depleted and fatigued squad.

The Gunners are out of the FA Cup after Manchester United beat them on penalties in the third round, creating space in the club’s calendar for a trip abroad this weekend.

Arteta and his squad jetted off to the Middle East on Thursday morning, the night after being knocked out of the Carabao Cup against Newcastle.

Several academy players were brought on the trip, and will have the opportunity to impress the Arsenal boss over the next six days.

• READ MORE: The seven games that Gabriel Martinelli will now miss for Arsenal as injury timeline revealed

Arsenal release first training video in Dubai

Arsenal currently sit six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

The Gunners will now have their feet up for ten days before they play their next game, while Liverpool face Plymouth and Everton within the next week.

This short break could give the Arsenal players a new lease of life, although they certainly aren’t resting on their laurels.

Arteta put them through their paces in the Dubai heat on Friday morning, with the club’s social media team releasing a video capturing some of the action on the training pitch.

While there isn’t an awful lot to take away from the video, the prominence of one player in particular makes for interesting viewing.

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji is involved in a rondo with Kai Havertz, Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard and Arteta, before popping up at the back post to slot past David Raya later in the video.

This could suggest he’s the young forward closest to making an impact in the first team.

Gabriel Martinelli is out for over a month after sustaining a hamstring injury against Newcastle, meaning Arteta has few options to pick from in forward areas.

This lack of options could create a pathway for an unlikely youngster to earn some minutes this season.

Butler-Oyedeji made his senior debut for the North London club in January, and has been named on the bench multiple times.

His prominent involvement with senior players in training in Dubai could indicate that Arteta is looking to properly integrate the 22-year-old into the first-team picture.

Possessing an electric burst of pace and elusive movement with his diminutive frame, Butler-Oyedeji could prove to be the unknown quantity Arsenal’s attack has been crying out for.

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji’s career statistics

While he may be on the cusp of first-team minutes, Butler-Oyedeji hasn’t exactly lit up senior football in his limited opportunities at the level.

Boasting a fruitful record at youth level, the forward has struggled to translate that efficiency to men’s football.

In 24 League One appearances on loan at Accrington Stanley and then Cheltenham, the prospect didn’t find the back of the net once.

However, he’s taken the mantle of being Arsenal under 21’s talisman this campaign, scoring seven goals and registering six assists in ten appearances in Premier League 2.