Arsenal have taken nine academy players with them on their first-team trip to Dubai, as the squad hold a warm-weather training camp.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal squad are currently in Dubai for a warm-weather training camp over their winter break from Premier League action, and a group of youth players have joined them on the trip.

Arsenal Youth initially reported that Mauro Bandeira, Reuell Walters, Ethan Nwaneri, James Hillson, and Charles Sagoe Jr. were all involved with the team in Dubai.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, Lino Sousa, Amario Cozier-Duberry, and Jack Henry-Francis have all since been pictured in training as well.

Bandeira recently returned from his loan to Colchester United, with the two clubs agreeing to terminate his move early.

The midfielder struggled for games in Colchester, particularly in the wake of a knee injury he suffered in October. He’s in need of the minutes on the training pitch ahead of the second half of the season.

It’s also no surprise to see Hillson involved. The 22-year-old tends to act as Arsenal’s fourth-choice goalkeeper, travelling with the squad when any of the three goalkeepers ahead of him are out.

Walters, Nwaneri, and Sagoe Jr. are seemingly being rewarded for their youth form.

The trio seem increasingly close to first-team minutes, though only Sagoe Jr. has actually played for Arteta’s side this season.

Walters is a defender who can play at right-back or centre-back, and he’s made 16 appearances on the bench for Arsenal without yet receiving his debut.

Midfielder Nwaneri did make his debut for Arsenal in the Premier League last season, and he’s in double figures for goals at youth level this season. The 16-year-old seems a sure thing for an eventual step up with the Gunners.

As for Sagoe Jr., the forward hasn’t played a particularly significant role with the Arsenal squad since his first-team debut in the League Cup in September, only making the squad on a couple of further occasions.

But with 13 goal contributions for the u21s and u19s, Sagoe Jr. is making his case for chances when the opportunities come.

Similarly, midfielder Lewis-Skelly, left-back Sousa, and right-winger Cozier-Duberry have all been impressive for the youth teams, and Henry-Francis (also a midfielder) is one of the u21s’ most experienced players.

They’ll all now have a chance to catch Arteta’s eye ahead of the second half of the season.