Pep Guardiola and Man City handed a rare advantage over title rivals Arsenal’s fixture problem
Arsenal are nearing the end of what has been a hectic month. The Gunners have navigated the month well, winning every game so far, but it’s been taxing on the Arsenal players’ legs.
The Gunners’ match against Nottingham Forest on October 30 will be their ninth of the month, with a game every 3.3 days on average.
Even by modern-day football standards, where there are more games than ever, nine matches in 30 days is pretty unprecedented.
Arsenal was supposed to play Manchester City this week, but the match was canceled due to the Gunners’ Europa League commitments.
Instead, Arsenal faced PSV Eindhoven in a rescheduled game after it was cancelled last month.
Apart from Arsenal’s match against Manchester City, there was a full slate of Premier League games this week. However, with Arsenal in the Europa League, City were the only club in the division without a match.
It provided Pep Guardiola with an opportunity to give his players a rare rest.\]
Guardiola gave his players two and a half days off after their loss to Liverpool last weekend, according to MEN’s Simon Bajowski.
Guardiola took advantage of a week when Arsenal – and every other Premier League club – was at full throttle, giving his players time off to rest and recuperate.
It remains to be seen whether it works, but City should be feeling fresh heading into the next set of games, whereas their title rivals haven’t had the same luxury due to their fixture pile-up.
Pep Guardiola and Man City handed a rare advantage over title rivals Arsenal’s fixture problem
