Just over 12 months ago, Arsenal used domestic cup frustration to their advantage. During a two-week warm weather training camp they regrouped and went on to win eight league matches in a row.
The run extended to 11 unbeaten and 16 wins from the final 18 games. It wasn’t enough to clinch the title but it was ample to ramp up serious pressure on Manchester City, forcing them to be near perfect as well.
In order to go one better than consecutive second-place finishes, Mikel Arteta knows that his team will need to be just as good in the final three months of this season. Coming off the back of a disappointing Carabao Cup exit to Newcastle United, the side have once more decided to make the most of the schedule.
Having left on Thursday, Arsenal are now back in Dubai. Owing to their FA Cup third round defeat to Manchester United last month, Arteta and his side have room to decompress before returning for a big push towards the exit.
They recaptured their form and 2022/23 creativity in the burst after a trip to the Middle East last year and must now do the same. Albeit with less time to tan in the sun, the FA Cup weekend has provided them with an out.
It has also given Arteta some room to breath. He has come in for criticism both for his recruitment influence and decisions and also the results, especially when in the domestic cups.
