Mikel Arteta makes key training change in bid to boost Arsenal title hopes

Gunners boss will need his side at full bore for remaining five matches as injury worries hang over squad

Mikel Arteta hopes his Arsenal players will return to training today refreshed and ready for one final charge at the Premier League title.

The Arsenal squad were given two days off following their defeat to Manchester City on Sunday , a break from Arteta's usual intense approach.

With the Gunners going deep in all four competitions this season, opportunities for the players to reset have been few and far between in recent months.

Arteta rewarded them with two days off after victory over Inter Milan in January , a result that came at the end of a run of four straight away matches.

In general, though, the foot has been on the gas all season in pursuit of a first league title in 22 years.

Exhausted Arsenal have been given some rare time off

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This has been a rare clear week for Arsenal as a result of them being knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton in the quarter-finals.

Arteta has regularly spoken about the mental and physical toll on his players this season and he has taken the chance to grant them some extra time off.

The squad will be back at the Sobha Realty Training Centre today to start preparations for a crucial clash with Newcastle on Saturday.

If City beat Burnley tonight , they will go top of the table on goal difference with five matches remaining.

That would set the stage for a sprint to the finish, with both Arsenal and City knowing they need to not only win those games but win them well.

Arsenal's matches with Newcastle have often turned into hard-fought battles in the last few seasons.

Newcastle will give Arsenal a physical match

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However, the Magpies make the trip to north London this weekend low on confidence and 14th in the table.

Arteta could receive some positive news on the team selection front over the next few days.

Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka are pushing to return from injuries to bolster Arsenal's ranks .

It is hoped that Saka will be back running on the grass this week. If he suffers no pain doing that, his recovery can be stepped up.

Timber, meanwhile, is close to being available again after a groin injury after the trip to City on Sunday came too soon.

This free midweek will particularly benefit those who have played a huge number of minutes this season and those who recently returned.