Arsenal’s pre-Dubai struggles in front of the goal seem a distant memory after their relentless scoring since the trip.
From fan jokes to player hints, there’s growing belief that something fundamental shifted during that warm-weather camp. Could it be tactical innovations, individual skill refinements, or something else entirely?
Before their warm weather training camp in Dubai, Arsenal‘s attack seemed to have lost its way. Scoring problems against tough opponents raised questions about Arteta’s need for a top striker. Yet, something clicked during that time away. Now, Arsenal can’t stop scoring, fuelling speculation about what really took place during those crucial training sessions.
“A sunshine training camp in Dubai clearly sorted them out” joked Arsenal fans after they scored five goals on the road for the second week in a row, this time against Burnley. However, Arsenal‘s six-game scoring bonanza of 25 goals following Dubai makes you wonder if there’s truth to it. While neither players nor Arteta will reveal exactly what they got up to, player interviews and on-pitch improvement offer clues about potential tactical and psychological shifts.
The most obvious beneficiary seems Bukayo Saka. Pre-Dubai, his form was solid but lacked the consistent impact of previous seasons. Since then, he’s been unstoppable, with two goals against Burnley on the back of a brace against West Ham. 53% of Saka’s 13 league goals this season have come since the trip to Dubai.
Havertz’s own goal against Burnley, followed up by another against Newcastle, further fuelled speculation. His willingness to make those forward runs echoes his words on the shared scoring burden: “It’s not the end now,” he said. “We keep being focused because I know you guys after one game without five goals you’re gonna write we need a striker!
“So we just work hard, enjoy ourselves on the pitch and that’s what we did today. We all trust ourselves and we know what quality we all have. We have to give trust to each other and that’s what we’ve done.
“It’s not only because of the strikers that you don’t score goals, defenders can score goals for us. That’s so important.”
Martin Odegaard, a vital component of this Arsenal squad, as evidenced by his own performance against Burnley when he scored his first goal in 12 games and also grabbed an assist, is playing levels above his pre-Christmas form. But the Dubai effect might lie in how those around him elevate the team rather than leaving it all to him. Did Arteta hone specific attacking partnerships during the camp, leading to greater fluidity in creating chances? It certainly looks like it.
Of course, it may be as simple as increased rest and fitness leading to greater intensity in every match. This alone might break down stubborn defences. Yet, it’s the shift from struggling to score at all to this consistent flow of goals that’s truly surprising.
One thing’s clear: Dubai was a turning point.
However, challenges remain. Arteta must find a way to keep this form consistent with fixture congestion looming and strong opponents yet to come.
Still, it’s worth wondering – just as their training camp seemed to fix their problem, could it ultimately prove the key to breaking title droughts and Champions League woes as well?