Arsenal players not involved in the World Cup are set to return to training at London Colney this week, with a friendly against Watford planned.

BODO, NORWAY - OCTOBER 13: Kieran Tierney of Arsenal runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League group A match between FK Bodo/Glimt and Arsenal FC at Aspmyra Stadion on October 13, 2022 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by David Lidstrom/Getty Images)
BODO, NORWAY: Kieran Tierney of Arsenal runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League group A match between FK Bodo/Glimt and Arsenal FC at Aspmyra Stadion on October 13, 2022. (Photo by David Lidstrom/Getty Images)

Charles Watts reports that the Arsenal players not currently with their national teams for the World Cup will be coming back to London Colney to resume training this week.

The Athletic’s Adam Leventhal previously wrote that Arsenal had agreed to play a behind-closed-doors match against Watford in the week commencing November 28th, so it looks as if that’s how the players will get back into the swing of things after their break.

The squad have mostly been on holiday since the win over Wolves, with the exception of the four players who featured in friendly internationals ahead of the World Cup, and the 10 players still in Qatar for the tournament.

But they have a trip to Dubai coming up, with friendlies against Lyon and AC Milan in early December before a game back in London against Juventus.

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So over the next week and a half, they’ll be looking to get back sharp enough to put on a good show for the fans in attendance at those matches.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Arsenal and Bodoe/Glimt at The Arsenal Stadium in London, on October 6, 2022. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Arsenal and Bodoe/Glimt at The Arsenal Stadium in London, on October 6, 2022. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal’s World Cup schedule (times in GMT)

  • November 13th-November 27th – Time off
  • W/C November 28th – Return to training and Arsenal vs Watford (London Colney)
  • December 4th – Travel to Dubai for a warm-weather camp
  • December 8th, 15:30 – Arsenal vs Lyon (Al Maktoum Stadium)
  • December 13th, 14:00 – Arsenal vs Milan (Al Maktoum Stadium)
  • December 14th – Travel back to London
  • December 17th, 18:00 – Arsenal vs Juventus (Emirates Stadium)
  • W/C December 19th – Rumoured 5th friendly (London Colney)
  • December 26th – The Premier League returns
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