Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta joins Pep Guardiola in slamming football chiefs for risking the health of players with congested fixture schedule… as the Gunners had to face Wolves just four days after Bayern clash
- Arsenal defeated Wolves to return to the top of the Premier League
- Mikel Arteta had his team’s busy schedule in mind
- Hope is not lost for Arsenal and it is wrong that Oleksandr Zinchenko is a scapegoat: listen to the It all starts podcast
Mikel Arteta has warned football authorities that the welfare of his players is at risk as Arsenal overcome Wolves to return to the top of the Premier League.
Leandro Trossard’s unorthodox first-half strike secured the win, with Martin Odegaard adding a second goal late in stoppage time.
The Gunners are now one point ahead of Manchester City, with a better goal difference, but have played a game more.
The result followed two defeats, including a Champions League quarter-final exit against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Although Arteta had his team’s busy schedule at the forefront. Arsenal have played two games in four days and will now play rival Chelsea on Tuesday.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has warned that the welfare of his players is at risk
“It’s not about us, Pep or myself, it’s about the well-being of the players,” he said. ‘When you compete in European competition, every team has to compete in the same way.
‘You can’t have a team that hasn’t played seven days or three days before and have more recovery time, and then you have to play in the Premier League and the FA Cup.
‘It is not good. If you look from any angle, it’s not good. If you want to protect, let’s talk about the players and the protagonists.
“Let’s protect the players and do everything we can to give them the maximum time to help them recover and perform and do the show they do every week.”
For the first time in the history of the competition, Arsenal have kept six clean sheets away from home in a row.
He added: “The boys were incredible, the staff were incredible. It is a pleasure to work with them.
“We realized that if you want to compete in the big leagues for the Champions League, fight for the Premier League and the level that requires, you have to do something special.
‘You have to be something special and love to compete and expose yourself when necessary to achieve the result you want. I thought the boys did a really good job today.”
Man City boss Guardiola struck in the 66-hour gap between Wednesday’s Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid and Mauricio Pochettino’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, which City won 1-0.
During his post-match press conference, he claimed that he is not allowed to participate in activities with broadcasters given their busy schedule.
He said: ‘For broadcasters [shrugs]. Don’t ask me to do any extra stuff after that, because we’re not going to do that.’
Leandro Trossard’s goal helped set up Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard grabbed three points with a goal late in the second half
Immediately after the match, Guardiola delivered an impassioned tirade during BBC coverage, labeling the match planning as ‘unacceptable’.
“It’s unacceptable,” the city boss said. ‘Because I won, I have the courage to tell you. It is not normal for the health of the players. I don’t understand how we survived today.
‘Why play today and not tomorrow when Coventry, Chelsea and United didn’t play last week?
‘Why not one more day for the health of the players? Tell me how you are preparing for this final against Chelsea for the best moment of the season. How? It’s impossible. There’s no chance.’
