Arteta reveals the formula behind Arsenal's lead in the English Premier League

Ahead of the London derby against Chelsea, manager Mikel Arteta shared the key factor helping "The Gunners" maintain their momentum in the Premier League title race.

For the first time since the Christmas period, Arsenal had a week without a midweek fixture, allowing the entire squad to focus on preparing for Chelsea's visit on Sunday. While Manchester City also had a lighter schedule and Pep Guardiola even advised his players to take a holiday to recharge, Arteta chose a different approach.

The Spanish strategist decided against taking the team for a short training camp in Dubai, though he admitted it was a very tempting option. Instead, he gave the players time off at the start of the week, trusting them to manage their own fitness.

Arteta expressed surprise that many players still proactively met up, had dinners, and spent time together during the break. Arteta said: “I wish we could have gone to Dubai. If we had one or two more days, I'm sure we would have spent a few days there because everyone really wanted to. But sometimes I give them time off thinking they won't want to see each other, only to find eight or ten of them gathering for dinner at someone's house or spending the whole afternoon together.”

According to Arteta, this natural bond is the "beauty" of the current Arsenal squad. The players believe that being together is the best thing they can do to prepare for the decisive phase of the season. And that continued to be evident this week.

In the past, when the schedule eased, Arsenal has organized outdoor barbecues for players and their families. However, when asked if there was any barbecue this past week, Arteta humorously replied: “In this weather? We only had one Wednesday. No barbecue. But there will be.”

Arsenal head into the Chelsea match following a crucial victory in the North London derby against Tottenham last weekend. This is seen as an opportunity for them to extend their lead in the title race.

Arteta acknowledged this has been an unusual week with more training time on the pitch for Arsenal. He believes this short break, combined with bonding activities like the Arsenal Foundation event the whole team attended, has boosted the squad's morale.

Arteta shared: “It's been a different week, very good for our preparation. Hopefully, we can show that on Sunday.”

With team spirit soaring and thorough preparation, Arsenal is expected to enter the major clash against Chelsea with maximum confidence in their quest to conquer the Premier League this season.