Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has interfered in the debate around fixture scheduling following Jurgen Klopp’s complaints over the last few years.
Klopp had criticised the decision to switch Liverpool’s visit to Manchester City to a 12.30pm kick-off after the November international break and said it was made by ‘people who cannot feel football’.
The Liverpool boss believes decisions like the one around the playing of the City fixture will ultimately harm the Premier League product because fatigued players will not be able to give out their best for one of the season’s stand-out fixtures.
Klopp has also frequently condemned the lunchtime scheduling, including one heated pitch-side debate with then BT Sport journalist Des Kelly back in 2020 after conceding a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.
He also vented his frustration in 2022 when the Reds were scheduled to face Newcastle United in the early Saturday slot in between both ties of their Champions League semi-final against Villarreal.
But Arteta, speaking to preview his side’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon at the Emirates, downplayed the challenges of playing three games every week, insisting his Arsenal stars are hungry to play every fixture.
He said: “That’s the beauty of it though. We wanted to be in that position and we are playing big games every three days and the squad is ready.
“Players are hungry to play every game, they are disappointed when we have to rest them to manage minutes. That’s a really good sign.”
