Mikel Arteta is confident that Arsenal will make a strong comeback in the Premier League after a revitalising winter break in Dubai.
Arsenal are five points behind table-toppers Liverpool after suffering three successive defeats and one win from their last seven games in all competitions.
The fourth-placed Gunners were eliminated from the FA Cup third round by Liverpool before leaving for Dubai for a warm-weather training camp.
With a home match against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Arteta is confident about his team’s chances.
"We are recharged, full of energy and super motivated so we want to attack the second half of the season with a lot of ambition and the understanding that the team is capable of big things. They are convinced of that," Arteta told reporters on Friday.
"It was a phenomenal camp. We recharged our batteries and the context of the environment, in the beautiful weather, helps. The togetherness and moments we shared together were great, so yeah we´re fully recharged."
Arsenal had led the Premier League table in December as they set their sights on their first title since 2004.
Goals have been hard to come by for Arsenal recently, with only five netted across their seven-game stumble.
However, Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus will return after recovering from a knee injury that forced him to miss the Liverpool loss which is why Arteta won’t move for a forward in the January transfer window.
"No, because I love the players that we have," he said when asked about the potential for a signing amid reports of a bid for Brentford´s Ivan Toney.
Arteta also provided an update about Dutch defender Jurrien Timber, who sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage in August, with the player set to be part of the squad for the training camp and could make a comeback by the end of the season.
"At the moment he´s still very far from competing. That´s the realistic picture of it," Arteta said.
"Are we hopeful that he could have a realistic impact before the end of the season? If everything goes well, it looks like that might happen. At the moment though it´s too early to make that call."
