Mikel Arteta has spoken for the first time since Arsenal flew to Dubai for their warm-weather training camp during the Premier League winter break.
The break will give the Gunners a two-week gap between their last game against Burnley on February 2 and their next game at home to Newcastle on February 16.
Arteta's squad began training on Friday (February 7) after a few days off and he is relishing the opportunity to spend more time with his players.
"We are really excited. The weather conditions and the facilities we have here for train are phenomenal, the boys are in good spirits and we had a really good training session," the head coach told Arsenal's official website.
"Just the fact of having everyone together, not just the players but the staff and the backroom staff to spend some time together and work on some things that we have to improve because we haven’t really had time to work with the 20 or 22 players since I have been here."
Since returning to Arsenal as head coach, the Spaniard has taken charge of nine games across all competitions but has only had a week's break between the draws against Crystal Palace and Sheffield United in January.
That cramped schedule has taken its toll on the players as some picked up injuries during that spell whereas others have still be recovering from more long term absences.
Arteta decided to bring all his players - injured or not - to Dubai, however, including new signings Cedric Soares and Pablo Mari. Cedric joined with a knee injury expected to keep him out for three weeks whereas Mari joined during the Brazilian pre-season and isn't fully up to speed. Kieran Tierney and Reiss Nelson also made the trip.
Therefore the Spaniard also addressed the importance of bringing injured players along to Dubai as well as giving an update on when Cedric and Mari will be in action.
"Exactly, this is what I want to create (a group dynamic)," he added.
"The new players that we have, it is a great opportunity for them to spend time together with the other players, get to know each other, live together - the same with the backroom staff as well. I think it will be a very important break.
"With Pablo a little bit more than Cedric, but we have to go step by step. He is a new player and I am sure he is very excited and wants to prove everything in three days, so we have to manage him wisely."
