Wounded Arsenal head to Dubai hoping history will repeat itself after Newcastle setback | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta facing big week as Gunners target title push after warm-weather break

“Book your train tickets, book your hotels, we are off to Wembley,” boomed a voice over the PA announcer.

A 2-0 away defeat meant Arsenal lost their Carabao Cup semi-final to Newcastle 4-0 on aggregate

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Arsenal are off to Dubai - but like Newcastle they can still dream that this season can end with a trophy.

The Gunners are now out of both domestic cups so their only chance of silverware lies in the Champions League or Premier League.

In that sense, their break to Dubai has come at a good time. Arsenal can go there to physically refresh, but also mentally reset.

When they return to action a week on Saturday at Leicester, the goal will be clear - fight for the Champions League and Premier League.

Arsenal are due to fly out to Dubai on Thursday and will spend six days there for a warm-weather training camp.

Like in previous seasons, families are welcome to attend. Some injured players, such as Ben White and Bukayo Saka, are also due to travel and they will continue their rehabilitation out there.

Arteta is big on team bonding and likes to have the whole squad together whenever possible, even if everyone is unable to train.

Arsenal will work at the same facility they have in the past and training will be centred around recharging players for the final stretch of the season.

Such a break proved transformative last year, with Arsenal returning from Dubai to win 16 of their final 18 Premier League games.

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal ‘need to swallow’ their difficult defeat at Newcastle

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“I think it will be good, it’s been a busy schedule, a lot of games and very intense,” said Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.

“So it will definitely be good to go away and get the energy high again, come back stronger and push for the big things until the end of the season.

“Last year I think we came back so strongly afterwards. I think it’s good in the middle of the season with so much going on, so we have to go there and make sure we get a good amount of rest, work hard as well.”

Wednesday’s defeat at Newcastle was Arsenal’s 11th game in 36 days since the turn of the year and that was perhaps partly to blame for a sluggish performance.

William Saliba, so often the most composed player on the pitch, was shaky on the ball. That seemed to spread through the Arsenal defence and the second goal they conceded was so uncharacteristic.

David Raya’s pass to Declan Rice was never really on and Newcastle pounced, leaving Anthony Gordon with the simplest of finishes.

That goal was only seven minutes into the second half, but it killed off the tie. Arteta conceded as much moments later, when he took off both Leandro Trossard and Odegaard.

It was a case of damage limitation, given Arsenal had already lost Gabriel Martinelli to a hamstring injury in the first half. The Brazilian will undergo a scan on Thursday and Arteta will have everything crossed that it is not serious.

Arsenal cannot afford more injuries in the forward line after failing to sign an attacker during the January transfer window.

If Martinelli is out, it would leave the Gunners with three fit wingers, once of which would be Ethan Nwaneri - who is primarily a central midfielder.

The 17-year-old was one of Arsenal’s bright sparks on Wednesday and tried to make things happen after coming off the bench to replace Martinelli.

It was nothing compared to the problems Alexander Isak caused, though, and you were once again left wondering just how different this Arsenal team would be with him in it.

That, however, is a thought for another time and right now Arteta’s only focus is on making sure he does not end this season empty handed.

“We need to swallow this one,” he said. “This is going to be a painful one, and when we’re in Dubai, recharge and go again because we still have a lot to play for.”