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How did a team go from being in a terrible state to flourishing in less than a month? What did they do during this time? What kind of magic allowed Arsenal to go from three consecutive defeats, conceding 6 goals and only scoring 1, before entering the Premier League winter break, to scoring 21 goals and conceding only 2 in 5 matches after the break? According to Arsenal's star player Bukayo Saka, all the secrets lie in Dubai!
Before the winter break, Arsenal's form had hit rock bottom. They failed to win any of their 5 matches before the break, losing consecutively to West Ham United, Fulham, and Liverpool. At that time, many believed Arsenal's title hopes for the season were dashed, and their previous season's glory was just a flash in the pan. They seemed unable to compete with champions like Liverpool and Manchester City.
Amidst much skepticism, most believed Arsenal lacked a strong number 9 striker. Throughout those 5 defeats, Arsenal actually had the upper hand in terms of possession and creating chances, but they struggled to convert those chances into goals and suffered as a result. Some argued they needed to upgrade their forward line to compete for the title. However, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta disagreed. He believed the team needed a consistent scorer but didn't think it was time to buy yet, as they could address the issue by unlocking the potential of existing players.
Arteta's words proved true. During the winter break, the entire Arsenal team went to Dubai for several days of intensive training together. The results were evident: Arsenal went from scoring only 2 goals in 5 matches before the break to scoring 21 goals in 5 matches after, conceding only two goals, including against strong teams like Liverpool. Even star player Saka joked after winning a game that he had just told the coach a few days earlier that he hoped they could go to Dubai again because it was so wonderful there.
Rest is for the sake of a longer journey, and Arsenal's return from the winter break is undoubtedly the best proof of this saying. Now back in the title race, trailing league leaders Liverpool by just 2 points with 13 rounds of Premier League matches remaining, Arsenal still have the chance to overtake them. I hope Arsenal can continue to improve and bring that elusive title home. |
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