The first team squad has just enjoyed a week of warm-weather training in Dubai – just as they did about this time last year – and as with last year, they are welcomed back to a home fixture against Newcastle.
Last year the side clearly benefitted from the mid-season change of scenery, returning to London to beat Newcastle 2-0 with goals from Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette in a Monday night fixture.
That victory lifted us to third in the table last season, whereas this Sunday we cannot rise higher than our current position of 10th, as we are four points adrift of ninth-placed Wolves going into the weekend.