Bukayo Saka joined his Arsenal pals as they fled England for sunnier climes on Thursday afternoon.

Mikel Arteta is taking his men for a warm weather training camp in Dubai to nourish and prepare them for the business end of the campaign.  Last season the foreign jaunt had a transformative effect as the Gunners went on to win 16 of their next 18 games after just one win in seven beforehand.

Arteta knows he needs a similar rejuvenation to catch Liverpool, who are six points and a game in hand ahead of them, with a blockbuster clash lined up on May 10.

Injured stars Saka and Ben White are among the contingent heading out to the United Arab Emirates.

Saka’s initial prognosis was a return in March while White was slated to come back before the end of February.