Arsène Wenger has strongly criticised the scheduling of Premier League matches during the Christmas and new year period, describing it as “the most uneven” he has encountered during his 20 years working in this country and claimed it has left Arsenal “with a big handicap” in regards to their title aspirations.
The Frenchman’s ire has been raised by his team having to travel to Bournemouth on Tuesday, after facing Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. “Honestly I don’t really know if the Premier League masters the fixtures,” Wenger said, adding that “some teams have more luck than others” in regards to when their matches have taken place during this traditionally busy time of the season.
Wenger is not the first top-flight manager to criticise the scheduling. Sam Allardyce called for the fixture organiser to be “sacked” for making Palace host Swansea City on Tuesday, with their opponents having 24 hours extra to prepare for the potentially significant match. In October, Jürgen Klopp also expressed his bewilderment at Liverpool having to take on Sunderland some 44 hours after they faced Manchester City in the late kick-off on New Year’s Eve.
“In 48 hours we go into a game with a big handicap on the fixture and I have to find fresh legs,” Wenger said before the trip to the Vitality Stadium. “In 20 years it is the most uneven Christmas period I’ve seen. The difference in rest period is unbelievable in terms of all the teams. It’s more we have sold the rights to TV for a lot of money so we have to accept TV chooses the games. But some teams have more luck than others.”
Arsenal are having to play three games in nine days because two of those games – against Palace and Bournemouth – have been moved to their respective slots by Sky Sports. Liverpool have also had two of their games during this period – the 4-1 win against Stoke City and the 1-0 victory over City – moved to different time slots by broadcasters, in their case Sky Sports and BT Sport, meaning they have played three times in seven days.
Chelsea, the leaders on the back of a record-equalling 13-game winning run, will play three games across 10 days, with only one of their Christmas and new year games – the visit to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday – moved for live broadcast. With the other two being home fixtures, it means Chelsea have also not had to leave London during this period.
Asked if TV companies are affecting the integrity of the Premier League, Wenger said: “We are privileged in our job. We get a lot of money to play football. Sometimes it goes for you and sometimes against you.”
It would also be wrong to overly focus on pressure from broadcasters for the scheduling given only one of Southampton’s games across Christmas and new year was shown on TV – the 4-1 defeat against Tottenham last Wednesday – and they have arguably been dealt the roughest hand, having to play three times in six days.
One benefit Arsenal have in regards to playing on Tuesday is that they can put pressure on Chelsea by cutting the gap to six points, although Wenger was reluctant to play that up. “I don’t know. At the moment I am focused on the next game,” he said.
“We go to a difficult place, Bournemouth. The good news is Jack Wilshere will not play [he is ineligible to face his parent club] but there are still enough good players to give any team problems.
“What’s happening in this league is all the big teams win against the smaller teams. Since November it is like that. The only moment where teams drop points is when they play against each other but that can change.
“Chelsea wins every single game, they are comfortable in front. We have to hang on and try to win and hope results turn in our favour. We had an exceptional run and in four games we lose two games. I hope it’s out of our system. But every game is so difficult.”
Mesut Özil missed Arsenal’s victory against Palace because of illness and Wenger will make a late decision regarding whether or not to select the Germany international for Tuesday’s match. “Mesut is a bit better, he is in bed,” the manager said. “Will he be ready for selection? We will have to wait a bit more.”
