Arsenal will prepare for the second half of the Premier League season with a warm weather training camp in the Middle East. The Gunners' season is currently on pause to allow the World Cup to run through the winter months for the first time in history, putting domestic football on hold across the world.
The north Londoners are top of the Premier League table after picking up 12 wins from their first 14 games and sit five points clear of Manchester City. Ten of Mikel Arteta's stars will take to the field in Qatar to represent their countries but the rest of the Arsenal squad will travel to Dubai in December to continue their preparations for their return to action on Boxing Day against West Ham United.
As previously reported, the Gunners will travel to the Middle East on December 4 after a short time at London Colney. Their participation in the Dubai Super Cup has already been confirmed, which will see Arteta's side face Scudetto champions AC Milan (December 13) and ex-Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette's Lyon (December 8).
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The club travelled to Dubai last year when a mixture of elimination from cup competitions and a lack of European football saw them presented with a considerable break. This year's trip presents an added bonus with the location being in close proximity to Qatar, meaning eliminated players from the World Cup could well join up with the group.
Alongside the double header against AC Milan and Lyon, football.london understands that the Gunners are planning to host a friendly at the Emirates Stadium before the return to Premier League football. It had been rumoured that Barcelona would travel to north London, but it has now been suggested that Serie A side Juventus will instead be the visitors.
That's according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, who claims the match will take place on December 17 - the day before the World Cup final. The fixture has not been confirmed by either clubs and football.london awaits further information on the fixture.
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