Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has openly criticized the congested football calendar, blaming it for his team’s growing injury crisis. Several key players, including Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli, have all suffered injuries in recent weeks, forcing Arsenal to rely heavily on their squad depth. Arteta believes that the current scheduling, with domestic and European commitments piling up, is putting an unsustainable strain on players.

This crisis comes at a crucial time for Arsenal, who are competing on multiple fronts, including the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. With their title ambitions hanging in the balance, Arteta has had to experiment with his starting XI, giving more minutes to younger players like Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe. However, the team’s performances have been inconsistent, raising concerns about their ability to sustain a title challenge without their first-choice lineup.

Calls for better player workload management have grown louder across European football, with Arteta being one of the most vocal critics. Similar concerns have been raised by Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp, who argue that fixture congestion increases injury risks and affects the overall quality of the game. As Arsenal continues to fight for silverware, the extent of their injury crisis could determine whether they finish the season with trophies or empty-handed.