Arsenal coach explains why club took academy players to Dubai training camp | OneFootball

Max Dowman is one of eight Gunners academy players who have joined the first-team squad on warm-weather trip

Arsenal Under-21 boss Mehmet Ali has explained why the club took Max Dowman and other academy players to the first-team’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

Arsenal took teenage stars Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Tommy Setford - who have integrated into the first team this season - and they were joined by eight more academy players.

Among those out in Dubai are Dowman, Charles Sagoe Jr, Jack Henry-Francis, Jack Porter, Josh Nichols, Ismeal Kabia, Michal Rosiak and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.

“There’s eight players that have joined the trip to come to Dubai to support the first team,” said Ali.

Dowman with Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly in Dubai

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“And I guess really it’s different for different players. You’ve got some of the younger ones who are coming for the first time, getting a feel for what it takes to be an Arsenal first-team player.

“And then you’ve got some of the older lads who have been in and around supporting the first team before, but ultimately, it’s about these guys coming to Dubai and trying to absorb as much information as they can from Mikel [Arteta], all of the first-team staff, and of course, all of the players as well.

“So it’s about learning, developing and facilitating the first team. It’s an invaluable experience that they are going to pick up.

“I always feel like when you are away in a 24-hour setting with the first team, it’s like three months of development in a week, simply because you are picking up so much information subconsciously, consciously.

“They’re picking up so many different things on the pitch, off the pitch. It’s a privilege for these boys and myself to be out here.

“I see us as like a well-oiled machine in terms of there’s so many staff that support in their roles and we try and be world class in each department that we work in.

“We’ve got Mark Walter here with us from a safeguarding perspective, but also making sure he’s supporting the lads that are still in school, getting their education in.

“And there’ll be time slots for them when the first-team staff and players will be relaxing. Some of the lads will be making sure they’re getting their education in as well.”