IT’S an unusual sight in December, but the Arsenal players went back to training this week as Mikel Arteta ramped up preparations ahead of the return to Premier League action on Boxing Day.

It was certainly a lot easier to find space in the sessions as the Gunners boss and his coaching staff put those players not currently competing at the World Cup in Qatar – including first-teamers Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel – through their paces at London Colney.

Overall Arsenal sent 10 players off to the Middle East to compete for the biggest prize in football.

And any hopes that Arteta had of getting some of them back early have so far been quashed with eight already through to the last 16 with their respective countries – while as the New Journal went to press, Takehiro Tomiyasu with Japan and Granit Xhaka with Switzerland were also in a position to reach the knockout stages.

The north Londoners have already unveiled the next step of their post-World Cup preparations with the club set to take part in the Dubai Super Cup next week, where they will face French side Lyon on Thursday, December 8, followed by Italian champions AC Milan on December 13.

Arteta said he is going to enjoy playing “two strong sides” in front of Gooners in the Middle East. The Spaniard added: “We’re looking forward to spending time together on the training pitch in a warmer climate. It’ll be a nice change of environment and a great opportunity for us to work hard and prepare for the second half of the season.

“Dubai is a fantastic place and the football facilities there are first-class. The Dubai Super Cup also gives us the opportunity to test ourselves against two strong sides in Lyon and AC Milan – it’ll be a great experience for the squad.

“There are going to be a lot of supporters in Dubai because a lot of people are staying there during the World Cup, so it is a good opportunity for us to play in front of the crowds.”

Arteta has seen Arsenal’s fixture list change – and even added to – since the unprecedented domestic break kicked in.

Their league clash with Man City at the Emirates Stadium, which was originally meant to take place in October but was postponed to allow the Gunners to fulfil their Europa League commitments, will now be played on Wednesday, February 15.

Meanwhile, they will ignite their FA Cup campaign with a testing third-round tie against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium after being paired with the League One side in Monday’s draw.

The exact date and kick-off time has yet to be confirmed, but the third-round fixtures are due to take place between January 6 and January 9.