MX23RW : Friday, July 17 14:03:43| >> :60:2639:2639:
Jul 15, 2020 at 8.15pm UK at Emirates Stadium
ArsenalArsenal
2-1
LiverpoolLiverpool
Lacazette (32'), Nelson (44')
Torreira (46'), Xhaka (81'), Ceballos (90+1')
FT(HT: 2-1)

Mikel Arteta hints at changes for Liverpool clash after "crazy minutes"

Mikel Arteta hints at changes for Liverpool clash after
© Reuters
The Arsenal boss is unhappy with the lack of preparation time between matches.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has bemoaned the fixture scheduling since the Premier League restart, admitting his players have amassed "crazy minutes" on the pitch in recent weeks.

The Gunners host new Premier League champions Liverpool on Wednesday night, three days after falling to defeat to Tottenham in the north London derby.

Arteta has just three days to lift his squad and prepare them for the next challenge as hopes of European qualification continue to dwindle, with Liverpool having an extra day's rest having drawn with Burnley on Saturday.

The perceived lack of preparation time follows a pattern which has seen Arsenal benefit from scheduling only once since the season resumed – and that was ahead of the Spurs loss.

Arsenal slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. (Michael Regan/NMC Pool)

In the five games that followed their opening game of Project Restart – a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City – Arsenal's opponents had longer to prepare – with Arteta keen to stress that point.

"We have only had an advantage in one – which was against Spurs," he said.

"The rest, all the teams had at least 24, 36 or 48 hours more than us.

"But look at the boys, they keep going, they go full-gas, it doesn't matter and we will do it again. We are not going to change it if the fixtures are already there. So we will keep going and try our best."

An FA Cup semi-final against City is next up for Arsenal after the Liverpool clash – with Arteta keen to be able to field his strongest side in both games, despite the demands placed on his players recently.

"Today and tomorrow we will asses the players and how they are," he added.

"Obviously they've been hit and a lot of them have played some crazy minutes up until now and again we're going to have games every two and a half days.

"You can see that recovery-wise with the schedule that we have been given by the Premier League, to play every two and a half days, but we will assess them today and tomorrow and put the players on the pitch who are in the best possible condition to compete and try to win the game again.

"We will try to put the strongest team out as possible here and as well on Saturday, and to do that we need to know how everyone recovers from the game."

Arsenal will still be without suspended striker Eddie Nketiah while Mesut Ozil is missing with a continued back issue.

ID:406480:

Click here for more stories about Mikel Arteta

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Liverpool are awarded a penalty and Arsenal's David Luiz is shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor after a foul on Liverpool's Mohamed Salah on August 24, 2019
Read Next:
SM Football Shorts: Premier League predictions for gameweek 36
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
Read more about Mikel Arteta Football

rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool36303377294893
2Manchester CityMan City36243993355875
3Chelsea361961164491563
4Leicester CityLeicester361881067363162
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd361711863352862
6Wolverhampton WanderersWolves361414849381156
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs3615101157461155
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd361412103835354
9Arsenal36131495345853
10Burnley36149134048-851
11Everton361210144253-1146
12Southampton36137164659-1346
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361110153755-1843
14Crystal Palace36119163047-1742
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton36813153753-1637
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham3597194459-1534
17Watford35810173354-2134
18Bournemouth3687213762-2531
19Aston Villa3687213966-2731
20Norwich CityNorwich3656252668-4221

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!