Home is where the Art is

LOW MILEAGE COULD GIVE MIKEL AN EDGE

- ALAN SMITH

THIS time last year Mikel Arteta was plotting a mid-season trip to Dubai that would breathe new life into Arsenal's season.

But now he is banking on home comforts over the next six weeks to give them an edge in the title race.

Eight of the Gunners' next 12 games are at the Emirates and while they gear up for tomorrow's Champions League visit of Monaco, their three domestic rivals are flying here, there and everywhere.

Between returning from beating Sporting Lisbon 5-1 at the end of November to visiting Wolves in late January, Arteta's team will have travelled less than 200 miles for 14 fixtures.

Despite several key injuries to contend with, venturing no further than Brighton is light work compared to Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.

Chelsea will dread this week's trip to south-east Kazakhstan.