While Newcastle United fans scrambled for trains, tickets and hotels around London for next month’s League Cup final through blissfully blurry vision, wide-eyed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was leading his side on to an Emirates flight to Dubai for a much-needed warm weather winter training break.

In each of the past four Premier League campaigns, Arsenal have recorded more points than the season before: from a nadir of 56 points (eighth) after Arteta took over midway through the 2019-20, to 61 points (eighth), to 69 points (fifth), to 84 points (second) to 89 points (second) last season, just two points behind champions Manchester City.

Newcastle couldn’t resist taking a thinly veiled dig at Mikel Arteta after Arsenal were humbled at St James’ Park and slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. The Gunners faced an uphill task to overturn a 2-0 deficit after their profligate finishing in the first game was punished by Alexander Isak and Anthony