Gunners juggling to deal with punishing schedule
Emery to rotate in tough week
London – Unai Emery admits Arsenal will struggle to cope with a draining schedule that sees them host Leicester at the start of three games in seven days. Emery’s side will be pushed to the limit by the television schedulers, who moved their Premier League clash with the Foxes to this evening at the Emirates Stadium (9pm SA time).
The Gunners then travel to Portugal for a Europa League tie against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday before returning to domestic action at Crystal Palace on Sunday. In contrast, Sporting faced Loures on Saturday night, giving them more time to recover before hosting Arsenal. Emery has fielded a strong side in Arsenal’s previous Europa League matches, but he will be forced to rotate more heavily this time.
“We are one team with a very high level and very high demand for us,” he said. “You can’t do that with play and rest, and we can’t do that without changing players. But if I decide to play with the same players Monday, Thursday, Sunday, the players can’t do that.
“We want to continue doing our way with different possibilities tactically and with the players – but with a lot of matches, we can’t do that.” Arsenal are on a ninematch winning streak in all competitions, but their chances of extending that run past the coming week will be severely tested.
Emery acknowledges the television rights holders can determine when his team play, but he wishes they showed more common sense. “We are first in one competition [the Premier League] and the TV is very important,” he said.
“I prefer to play Saturday or Sunday. It [playing on Monday] has the advantage for more time to prepare the match – that’s one positive.” Meanwhile, Leicester manager Claude Puel insists he always knew Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette would come good. Lacazette endured a difficult first season with Arsenal, but has five goals in 10 games this term.
Puel, who gave Lacazette his senior debut in 2010 at Lyon, said: “He is a complete player with good transition with or without the ball. ”