Arsenal set to follow rivals' lead with major training ground overhaul

Arsenal are planning a major overhaul of their training ground after concluding that their current facilities have fallen behind those of their primary Premier League rivals. The Gunners are exploring the possibility of building a brand-new men's first-team centre designed to bring key training, medical, and recovery areas together under one roof.

London Colney has been Arsenal's base since 1999, but several English clubs have made significant infrastructure investments in recent years. Manchester United revamped their Carrington base with an estimated £50 million project, while Liverpool now boast the state-of-the-art AXA Training Centre. Arsenal have already carried out minor upgrades for the first team—including improvements to the gym and treatment rooms—and approved a temporary gym for the women's team during ongoing renovation work.

The more ambitious scheme involves constructing a purpose-built hub for the men's squad that integrates training, medical, and rehabilitation facilities, alongside changing rooms, offices, dining facilities, and media areas. Should the project proceed, the existing men's facilities could subsequently be handed over entirely to the women's team. For now, the proposal remains in the exploratory phase, with no final design, budget, or construction timeline officially confirmed.

The club also previously explored building a small stadium at the training complex for the Under-21 and Under-19 sides, who currently play their home matches at Meadow Park, though they opted not to pursue planning permission. These new training ground blueprints follow Arsenal's decision to shelve major expansion plans for Emirates Stadium, choosing instead to focus on incremental venue upgrades.