Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta stood in unison with Manchester Metropolis counterpart Pep Guardiola in condemning the fixture schedule.
Guardiola mentioned it was “unacceptable” that his aspect needed to play an FA Cup semi-final lower than 72 hours after being in motion within the Champions League on Wednesday evening as they beat Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday tea-time.
The Gunners’ plight was arguably worse as they have been additionally in Europe on Wednesday evening however needed to journey again from Germany on Thursday following their Champions League exit to Bayern Munich.
A fast have a look at the place @Arsenal‘s newest win leaves the Premier League high three contest pic.twitter.com/emUxfQf3ws
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 20, 2024
They made mild of that fast turnaround as they beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday to return to the highest of the Premier League earlier than they play once more on Tuesday evening in opposition to Chelsea.
“It’s not about us, Pep or myself, it’s concerning the well-being of the gamers,” Arteta mentioned after Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard objectives despatched his aspect one level above Metropolis.
“Particularly when you’re competing in European competitors, every thing must be competed in the identical method.
“You can’t have a workforce that hasn’t performed for seven days or three days earlier than and has extra restoration time and you must play within the Premier League or the FA Cup.
“It’s not proper. In the event you have a look at it any angle it’s not proper. If you wish to defend and also you at all times discuss concerning the gamers and the protagonists, let’s defend them and take into consideration them and do every thing we will to offer them the utmost time to allow them to get well and so they can preserve the present they placed on each week.
“We stayed in Munich, I feel we had two hours sleep, get up and we began to speak about Wolves to begin with after which perceive what we needed to do to win the sport.
“The boys have been unbelievable. You have a look at the quantity of video games we now have performed in the previous couple of weeks, the kind of video games we now have performed and the angle and the way in which they’ve run right this moment is high.”
It was an excellent restoration from the Gunners after a horror week the place their title hopes have been broken by a 2-0 residence defeat to Aston Villa final week earlier than their Champions League exit in Munich.
However they may very well be 4 factors away from Metropolis by the point Guardiola’s aspect subsequent play as they attempt to wrestle management of an exciting title race.
Arteta added: “It was actually good, I actually favored the efficiency, the end result, the clear sheet but in addition the way in which individually and a workforce they confirmed they nonetheless have a step ahead to make.
“We realised we wish to be concerned in large competitions, preventing for the Champions League, preventing for the Premier League, the extent it requires, we now have to do one thing particular. You need to have that like to compete.”
Wolves battled arduous however are crippled by accidents, with the vast majority of their key attacking gamers sidelined.
They’re now six video games and not using a win, however boss Gary O’Neil was proud.
“I assumed it was an unimaginable efficiency, it exceeded my expectation of what we have been in a position to produce right this moment,” he mentioned.
“We didn’t should lose 2-0, dropping 1-0 and never fairly with the ability to break them down might be as unhealthy because it ought to have been for us.
“We got here up simply quick in opposition to among the best groups in world soccer so there’s no shame in that.”
