Arsenal win but Arteta hits out at ‘insane’ schedule
MIKEL ARTETA hit out at the ‘insane’ Premier League schedule after three players succumbed to injury during Arsenal’s win at Leicester. And he revealed that top-flight bosses had forecast the physical toll this season would take on players. Leciester rival Brendan Rodgers saw winger Harvey Barnes carried off on a stretcher. He now requires knee surgery and will be out for at least six weeks. Team-mate Jonny Evans will have a scan on a calf problem while Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe was substituted just before half-time with a muscular issue. Arteta was hugely impressed after David Luiz’s header, Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty and Nicolas Pepe’s second-half strike helped the Gunners recover from Youri Tielemans’ opener. But he feels the health of players is being risked as leagues scramble to complete their seasons on time amid the Covid crisis. ‘It is insane,’ said Arteta. ‘The amount of minutes and games these players are playing without any pre-season, without any break. You’re going to get injuries. All the managers raised our voices at the start of the season and (now) it’s happening.’ Arteta rested key men Bukayo Saka and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang after both helped knock Benfica out of the Europa League in Athens less than 72 hours earlier. Rodgers was already without top performers — James Maddison, James Justin, Dennis Praet, Ayoze Perez and Wesley Fofana were all unavailable — before Barnes and Evans were injured, while Jamie Vardy appeared to be feeling pain around his hip in the first half. Arsenal have a full week’s break before their next league game, while Leicester travel to Burnley on Wednesday. Rodgers said: ‘We have carried injuries all season and are down to the bare bones. When you miss influential players, it makes a difference.’ Arsenal had lost three of their previous four league games and looked to be facing another struggle when Leicester scored after six minutes. Kelechi Iheanacho cut out Granit Xhaka’s attempted pass to Willian and Tielemans seized on the loose ball. With no opponent challenging, he found the bottom corner with an angled shot. Arsenal were awarded a penalty when Pepe fell between Tielemans and Wilfred Ndidi, only for VAR to change it to a free-kick just outside the box on review. However, the Gunners did equalise six minutes before half-time. A foul by Luke Thomas on Pepe earned him a booking. Willian guided the free-kick over and Luiz planted a diving header beyond Kasper Schmeichel. Arsenal were thankful for VAR in the closing seconds of the first half. Play was originally allowed to continue after Pepe’s cross hit Ndidi on the arm, yet Paul Tierney gave a penalty after a quick check of the pitchside monitor. Lacazette sent Schmeichel the wrong way. Leicester conceded a third when Willian reached Martin Odegaard’s pass before Schmeichel and the Brazilian set up Pepe to tap in.
LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6; Castagne 5, Evans 6 (Amartey 70), Soyuncu 5, Thomas 4 (Albrighton 46); Tielemans 6, Ndidi 5; Pereira 5, Iheanacho 6, Barnes 6 (Under 49); Vardy 5. Subs not used: Ward, Choudhury, Mendy, Fuchs, Daley-Campbell, Tavares. Booked: Thomas, Tielemans. ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Leno 6; Soares 6, Luiz 7, Mari 7, Tierney 7; Elneny 6 (Partey 66), Xhaka 6; Pepe 8, Smith Rowe 6 (Odegaard 42), Willian 7; Lacazette 7 (Aubameyang 84). Subs not used: Ryan, Bellerin, Saka, Ceballos, Holding, Martinelli. Booked: Tierney. Man of the match: Nicolas Pepe. Referee: Paul Tierney.