Mikel Arteta, his team, and the Arsenal players are all enjoying some time away from the everyday pressures of English football. It is much needed.

With a free week and the chance to recharge the batteries before an end-of-season push over 14 Premier League matches and then the return of Europe, it is a true blessing. Following on from the disappointment of crashing out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of Newcastle United, a trip to Dubai only seems appropriate.

It was this voyage last winter that sparked a dramatic uptick in form and confidence. Arteta knows that anything but a repeat will leave his side stagnating for the season.

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Here, football.london looks at the latest stories around the club despite the escape to the Middle East.

Lewis-Skelly noticed

Thomas Tuchel and his England staff are already making plans to callup Myles Lewis-Skelly for the March internationals. It is claimed that he is being closely monitored by the new Three Lions boss despite being yet to feature for the Under-20 or Under-21 side.

Lewis-Skelly has raced through the Arsenal academy setup and is now an undroppable first-team feature for Arteta. He has been tipped to be part of the 2026 World Cup squad after recent form.

The main competition at left-back is likely to be with Newcastle United's Lewis Hall at that stage. Lewis-Skelly is also able to play in midfield but would find minutes harder to come by there.

football.london says: This should be no surprise. Tuchel is a very good identifier of talent and often has brilliant individual effect on those who he coaches. As one of the league's standout names of 2025, getting an early glimpse of Lewis-Skelly could be valuable.

Arsenal will hope that he is carefully looked after and gently managed. This is still an 18-year-old we are talking about and Lewis-Skelly has come to public attention so quickly that it could be dangerous to put him further in the spotlight.

He has taken on every challenge so far with great conviction and it would be a surprise if he was to do anything else if called up by England. They integrated Kobbie Mainoo and Jude Bellingham seamlessly in the past and would no doubt be able to repeat that with Lewis-Skelly.

Sesko message

Benjamin Sesko scored his ninth Bundesliga goal of the season for RB Leipzig on Sunday. It is his 15th in all competitions and extends an impressive run since the start of December.

The 21-year-old forward now has six in his last nine games, also managing an assist against St Pauli as he played a part in both goals in a 2-0 win. This was his first appearance since the transfer window closed on Monday.

He was never expected to leave Germany mid-season but Arsenal do maintain their interest in him ahead of the summer window. Sesko's latest activity is evidence of exactly why.

football.london says: Sesko is showing, much like he did at the halfway stage of last season, just why he is so highly rated. He ended 2023/24 on fire and is now finding his feet again after a slow start to the campaign.

There are still questions over just how ready he would be to offer reliable Premier League output but that is certainly offset by the raw talent he has. With a love for long-range shots and a unique physical profile, Sesko has so much to offer that it is hard to see him not being a success in England.

He has the aggression and speed as well as sheer fire in his shots to blast goals in. Whether Arsenal have the cash or the desire to pay big bucks for him is another matter.