Cynthia Ezegwu
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged football authorities to prioritise player welfare amid a congested fixture schedule that could see his side face three matches within five days in December.
The Gunners are due to play Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-finals on December 16, a date that leaves both sides with a demanding run of fixtures. While Palace are reportedly pushing for a reschedule, Arsenal prefer to keep the match on the original date to avoid worsening their crowded Christmas calendar.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Burnley on Saturday, Arteta emphasised the need for football’s rule-makers to put players and supporters first when deciding match schedules.
“Every decision we make in terms of fixtures has to be guided by two main things: players’ welfare and supporters,” Arteta said on Friday. “If we ignore that, then anything is possible — and we risk damaging the very essence of the game.”
The Arsenal boss also downplayed growing talk of potential player strikes, raised last season by Manchester City’s Rodri, insisting that such extreme measures could be avoided if welfare remains a top priority.
READ ALSO: Arteta: Saliba, Martinelli Out; Rice, Saka, Calafiori Fit for Brighton Clash
“If we look after the players and supporters, we’ll never get to that point,” he said. “We have to close that window completely. It’s our most precious value.”
Arsenal head into the Burnley game on an impressive run of eight straight wins across all competitions and a six-match clean sheet streak. The Premier League leaders are four points clear at the top as they chase their first league title since 2004.
When asked whether his team felt “unstoppable,” Arteta remained cautious. “No, because every three days there’s a new challenge,” he said. “It’s a big opportunity we have ahead of us, but maintaining this level of consistency is always difficult.”