Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has told the Premier League to scrap the Wednesday-Saturday lunchtime scheduling of matches
At a Premier League meeting in May 2021, the clubs voted to remove the Wednesday-Saturday schedule for any team engaged in Champions League action.
However, the rule does not apply to domestic football, meaning Arsenal will kick-off at Aston Villa on Saturday just 63 hours after losing to Manchester City in midweek.
“They put the schedule the way they did,” Arteta said. “It’s a bit unusual, but it’s what it is. There are certain rules with the Champions League.
“When you are playing on Wednesday night and then you cannot play [on Saturday lunchtime]. So I think that should apply to any competition.
“I think that is why one of the changes was made towards the Champions League teams, especially.
“But I think following the same principle, I think you are talking physiologically, that is very difficult to turnaround on that period to get the best outcome and reduce the injury risk for players, but that’s it. We knew we were going to play at that time. That’s not an excuse.”