Like most Premier League managers, Arsene Wenger will be happy to see the back of the congested festive period.
Arsenal play again tonight against Bournemouth, just two days after they last took to the field against Crystal Palace.
Unsurprisingly, the Gunners’ squad is starting to suffer through injury and illness, with Theo Walcott, Kieron Gibbs, and Mesut Ozil all having to sit out the 2-0 win over the Eagles.
The only consolation is that it’s broadly the same for every team – but Wenger believes even that isn’t really true.
Chelsea don’t play until Wednesday, and Antonio Conte’s players are clearly reaping the rewards of resting more. Not only have they not had European football to contend with, they’ve had an average of five days between their games over Christmas and New Year – for Arsenal, it’s an average of just over three days.
It’s fair to say Conte’s fast-paced approach wouldn’t work nearly as well were his team playing more regularly as it wouldn’t be sustainable, and that’s something he’ll definitely have to think about presuming Chelsea are in the Champions League next season.
“It is, in 20 years, the most uneven Christmas period I have seen on the fixture front,” Wenger said, per ESPN.
“The difference in rest periods is absolutely unbelievable.”
Wenger must feel equally torn over tomorrow’s game between Tottenham and Chelsea, with a draw probably the ideal result for the Gunners.
“Honestly, I don’t know anymore if the Premier League masters the fixtures,” he added.
“We have sold the rights to the television for a lot of money so we have to accept that the television chooses the games.”
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