Mikel Arteta calls for Premier League change as Arsenal's injury problems grow

The Gunners will be without Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus for the next few weeks
Matt Verri27 October 2023

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes Premier League clubs should be allowed bigger squads to protect the welfare of players.

The Gunners have been hit hard by injuries this season and this week lost Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey to injury.

Last month, Arsenal were at risk of being without eight first-team players ahead of a trip to Bournemouth.

And Arteta believes that the Premier League rules should be changed to mean clubs can register more than 25 players.

“If we have more games, more competitiveness and physically the standards are higher - by playing more minutes - we have to do that or instead of five subs, we have 10,” said Arteta.

“The five subs is now something normal but it was a big fight to go from three to five.

“I cannot imagine the game in the conditions we are in today after last year and the World Cup without five subs, it would be so difficult.

“If the calendar extends, for sure we would have to think of not dropping the quality. The only way to do it is players have to have certain availability and you need players to pick.

“It’s about everybody. When is this going to stop and how long will it take for us to make the right decisions.

“The laws will change and probably our capacity to do things during games will change as well. We will have to adapt, for sure.”

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