Mikel Arteta says the expanded format of the Champions League has made January more difficult for Arsenal on two fronts.
As of the start of the 24/25 campaign, Uefa’s three club competitions adopted the Swiss model. The traditional group stages were replaced by a single league phase, with teams playing eight (Champions League / Europa League) or six (Conference League) different opponents.
Not only have the extra fixtures in the top two competitions crept into the second half of the season, but the nature of the qualification process has added more uncertainty and made it more difficult to rest star players.
While Arteta believes that might be more entertaining for supporters, he’s hinted at a knock-on effect in the transfer market where teams are reticent to sanction player sales while their fates are yet to be decided.
Speaking ahead of the Gunners’ trip to Wolves, the eighth of nine fixtures in January, Arteta was asked if the impact of extra games in Europe was being felt.
“Yeah, for two reasons,” he explained. “One is because there’s still a lot of uncertainty about who’s going to qualify and what you need in the last game, so it leaves it open.
“I think probably for the public it’s very interesting. And the other factor is, yes, that we’re still at the end of the market, it’s open, and a lot of competitions are running, and with a lot of uncertainty for certain clubs especially. So it makes it a little bit harder.”
While Arsenal have all but qualified for the knockout stages with a top-eight finish, most clubs won’t know their fate until late on Wednesday. Once they do, there could be a frantic race to complete transfers before the window closes across Europe on 3 February.
Arteta had earlier stressed that the Gunners are still working on recruits to cover for the loss of Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka to long-term injuries.
He was also asked whether expanded squads may be necessary in the future to help elite players cope with the extra demands and if this could unite managers to call for change.
“I think we [managers] cannot resolve that situation. I think that situation as well with both the Premier League and UEFA rules have to be adapted because the schedule has adapted in a really demanding way, but the constraints that the clubs have are more limited.
“That doesn’t make a lot of sense to continue in the direction that we want which is to watch the best football games that we want, to have players available so that players can extend their careers and maximise their potential, and for the show to continue.”
Too much thought about playing lots of matches and getting money and too little on players likelihood of injuries.
Precisely. Quantity is reducing quality and to be fair endangering players
The more the fixtures the merrier for the fans but it definitely takes a toll on the players’ health. I think the European leagues and UEFA should allow clubs to register 30 players for the season – up from 25.
That will mean less playing and more bench time for elite players & disgruntlement in squad.
Anything more than 22 member squads should not be allowed, and number of competitions should be reduced. Arsenal should avoid taking Carling Cup seriously. Arsenal B should only play in it.
Even with an enlarged squad elite players would still get a lot of game time because you need them if you want to win games. Where extended cover would help though is in having the option of subbing them early in a game or having them on the bench now & again. Elite players are being injured time & time again because of the number of games they have to play & that’s not going to change – there’s too much money involved! I think most of these players would welcome a rest now & again, they see what’s happening,… Read more »
Clubs in European competitions should not be allowed to play in the league cup. One less competition for top clubs and makes a trophy more attainable for mid table and lower clubs. Squad size will still need to be increased though.
I can’t agree. One of the most serious problems in football right now is the overplaying of players and the injuries that this is causing.
Larger squads with more substitutions allowed would definitely help.
So would an enforceable limit on the number of matches a player could be allowed to play in a season.
… what prefers the rich… ☹️
I’m not enjoying all this football. I mean I watch about 70% of games. I just don’t have the time to see them all anymore and it annoys me that we don’t get to see the players in the best form.
They are ruining this sport but yet it’s never been bigger. But no one cares about the quality!!
Its oversaturation
I have to say, I’m a fan who watches all the games religiously, and I’m tired. More games is not better. Ignoring the physical demands on players, it diminishes the quality of the football. We’ve already got 5 subs, are extending breaks in play for recovery time, and are sitting in for final 25 minutes because we can’t sustain press over course of season. It’s not about increasing squad size, or rotation, which will just damage cohesion further. It’s about reducing games both international and domestic. Trust me, you’ll enjoy the football more when there’s less of it.
Basically we ain’t signing any players 🙄
Pathetic performance by Arsenal in the transfer market so far. Two or three quality additions could have given us a realistic chance of catching Liverpool; but this lack of activity has made it almost certain that we’ll miss out on the title yet again. Still: the owners won’t care. They will get top-four and therefore CL football for next season. And that will make them plenty of money. That’s all they care about. And the manager will continue to pocket his massive salary knowing that he is under no pressure to actually win anything. What a sad, pathetic club we’ve… Read more »
It’s not play station fats
I love ya but at times you are like a little spoilt fat kid who has been told he can’t have any sweets as he has got to go to the dentist.
Most projections reflect internal reality.
But the league was over, for us, over a week ago… and Arteta has taken us far as he can… and blah blah something pathetic blah
You’re a sad, miserable, pathetic “fan” Fats. Get real.
Whoah- easy on the personal attacks there @vonnie. This is not a spurs fan site! 😉
If it’s not Fats it’s TP5 for Vonnie. I think she has a crush on one of em.
“the owners won’t care”. Not true, the Kroenkes have backed Arteta. Current squad cost 700 million. Rice, Havertz, White alone were 215 million. There’s FFP to contend with (unless you are Citeh). The issue this season has been injuries to key players (Ode & Saka), injuries to squad players meaning others get overplayed & tired, poor form by key players, not enough goals from midfield / wingers, red cards, hectic schedule, playing TP at RB. Sterling has not worked out; Reiss Nelson or Vieira would have been better. The real bright spots are MLS and Ethan. And of course our… Read more »
I think this new CL format is so boring. Lots of games accidentally played home or away. Can’t wait for the real games in the PL and that’s why it’s unpleasant we’re no longer in the FA cup.
It’s a weird format, certainly. Each club with a unique selection of opponents and jumble of home and away fixtures, and a league that resembles the Olympics medal table. But if it keeps things going till the final match day and we avoid dead rubbers against FC Dross like we used to get, then fair enough.
To be fair, though, we HAVE got a (pretty much) dead rubber against FB Dross coming up on Wednesday. Barring a ludicrous set of results, we’ve already qualified for the top eight, and Girona are already eliminated.
Interesting. I hadn’t considered the impact of the expanded European competitions on the transfer market. Makes sense.
All the more reason to sign Chris Wood LOL.
Taking a bit of a distant view, it’s crystal clear where football is heading, it’s money squeezing open war, between a semi-corrupted uefa, daylight robbery corrupted FIFA, and club owners who navigate in a very shady sporting vs business landscape. Greed is is winning. Thankfully , there are teams like Tranmere Rovers to follow, where you feel that intimacy with club, players, and the craft in becoming winners, and the difficulty of the same. Blessed are the lower leagues
The time to address the weakness of the squad was last summer – not in January when teams are reluctant to sell and charge extortionate prices – I would rather try our best this season and wait until the summer 😕
If it’s not injuries it’s Arsenal shooting themselves in the foot – this season just needs to end…