What are Arsenal doing during the World Cup break?

Arsenal are in dreamland.

While expectations were high heading into the 2022/23 season following a productive summer transfer window and excellent pre-season, nobody – and I mean nobody – would’ve foreshadowed this.

The Gunners are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table heading into the lengthy World Cup break. They will be top at Christmas for the first time in 15 years.

Mikel Arteta’s side have conquered all before them through 14 league games this season and it’s taken an unprecedented winter tournament to halt their momentum. Ten Gooners will represent their respective nations in Qatar, but what has the club got planned for the remainder of the first-team squad?

What are Arsenal doing during the World Cup break?

Arsenal’s next Premier League fixture is scheduled for 20:00 (BST) on Boxing Day as West Ham visit the Emirates. Thus, Arteta has got plenty of time to get his squad back in shape for a rigorous new year schedule.

The club confirmed earlier this week that they will be competing in the Dubai Super Cup during the World Cup. The Gunners will take on Lyon on 8 December and AC Milan on 13 December as part of the tournament with Liverpool also taking part.

Arsenal have been to Dubai plenty of times over the years with Arteta being a huge fan of the facilities on offer.

"“Dubai is a fantastic place and the football facilities there are first-class. The Dubai Super Cup also gives us the opportunity to test ourselves against two strong sides in Lyon and AC Milan – it’ll be a great experience for the squad,” Arteta on the World Cup training camp."

Members of the Arsenal squad that aren’t heading to Qatar will soon return to London Colney where they’ll spend a few days before jetting off to Dubai. The Gunners will be based at the Nad Al Sheba Training Centre, with their two fixtures taking place in the Al Maktoum Stadium.

The players will spend ten days in Dubai before returning to London after the Milan game where they’ll ramp up their preparations for West Ham.

A friendly at the Emirates on 17 December is also in the pipeline but that is yet to be confirmed.