Arteta eyes Dubai to embed idea
Attacking ways to get his attention
Burnley – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he is still far from bedding in his attacking philosophy at the club but is hopeful that a training camp in Dubai can help the players recharge their batteries and soak in his ideas.
Arsenal were held 0-0 at Burnley on Sunday for their fourth straight Premier League draw, leaving Arteta with only one win from his first seven league matches in charge since replacing Unai Emery in December.
They have scored only eight goals in those games.
“We have to improve qualitywise. We’re very far in terms of what I want in sustaining attacks and being unpredictable in our play, but that’s a process,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
“In the next two weeks, we have longer periods for training and I’ll use them. We need some players back from injury and try our best to improve the team.”
Arsenal, who are 10th with 31 points from 25 matches, return to league action against Newcastle United on February 16.
“It’s good to go away... the players have been through a lot,” Arteta told Arsenal’s website.
“The last two-three months have been tough for them so I want to give them a few days off. Then we’re going to go to Dubai, start working and focus on Newcastle.”
Arteta also blamed the Turf Moor pitch as Arsenal lost more ground in the race to finish in the Premier League’s top four.
Arteta claimed the long grass and a dry pitch had played a crucial role in preventing Arsenal playing their normal passing game.
Indicating a couple of inches, Arteta insisted: “The conditions were difficult. The grass was this long and they didn’t put any water on it, and that’s not a very helpful thing to play football.
“I didn’t water the pitch yesterday at the training ground because I expected it, but that doesn’t make it any easier to play.” –