Mikel Arteta is keen on Arsenal's warm-weather camp after an 'incredibly busy schedule'.

Arsenal are close to formalizing a warm-weather training camp in Dubai after an emphatic 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb put them on the brink of automatic qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard scored in a comfortable win at the Emirates Stadium which meant Arsenal could even miss their final group game in Girona next week and still be assured of direct passage to the next round.

Arsenal will face Newcastle in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at St James’ Park on February 5.

But their exit from the FA Cup, and the potential certainty of missing out on a two-legged play-off to progress to Europe’s last 16, means they will have 10 days off before returning to action in the Premier League. against Leicester

Arsenal jetted to Dubai for a week-long training camp a year ago – a decision that turned their season around as they dropped just four points from their last 18 league games.

The success of last season’s winter break has fueled belief in the importance of another camp next month – especially after the squad’s packed fixture list following last summer’s European Championships.

However, it is clear that the club are also aware that given Liverpool’s impressive run in the league, a break in the Middle East will not necessarily provide the silver bullet needed to end their two-decade wait for a title.

Arsenal are currently six points adrift of Arne Slott’s men with a game in hand.

Asked how a winter camp would affect his injury-hit squad, manager Mikel Arteta said: “If we get the right to do that, that would be great.

“It’s been an incredibly busy schedule, with a lot of demands, especially from the players, and a lot going on.”

Arsenal are third in the table going into the final round of the Champions League, three points behind Aston Villa, who are currently in ninth place, with a superior goal difference of seven goals.

The top eight automatically qualify. Their final opponents, Girona, have lost six of their seven matches so far.

“With the new format, you don’t know how many points you need,” said captain Odegaard, who scored just his second goal of the season in stoppage time to complete the win against Dinamo.

It’s key to take it game by game and make sure we’re there. “It’s what we want, so we’re happy and it looks good, but we have to finish the job.”

Arsenal return to domestic action at Wolves on Saturday with a trip to Girona followed by a Premier League clash against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Emirates on February 2.