TO BUY OR DUBAI? LOOKS LIKE GUNNERS MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE

Sun is shining on Arteta's title challenge once more after break to the desert

- MIKE WALTERS

Arsenal returned from their winter break in the desert refreshed, rejuvenated, and as walking billboards for the adage that, if you face the sun, the shadows will fall behind you.

It remains to be seen whether a bunch of fives against Crystal Palace's version of slip, slap, slop - slip-ping towards trouble, slapped in the chops by their own fans' protests, and sloppy at setpieces will paper over the cracks and the chronic shortage of a prolific goalscorer.

But after three consecutive defeats, the Gunners needed to stop the haemorrhage and they found a tourniquet on their mid-season sunshine camp in Dubai.

Goalkeeper David Raya said: "We needed a win like this. Obviously it was a good break, we trained really hard and focused on the things we had to improve.

"We played a lot of games last month and it was a nice way for the players and the staff to reconnect. We showed we are capable of performing at the highest.