ART’S HIT BY COVID CHAOS
MIKEL ARTETA believes the integrity of the Premier League has been damaged already by the Covid fixture chaos. Arsenal’s request to have today’s north London derby at Tottenham postponed was granted yesterday, after their application to the Premier League on Friday due to a host of players being unavailable.
A mixture of coronavirus, injuries, suspension and players being away at the Africa
Cup of Nations led to Arsenal “reluctantly” taking the step to ask for a postponement.
“Following a request from Arsenal, the Premier League Board met today and agreed to
postpone the fixture against Tottenham,” a statement read.
“With Arsenal having fewer than the required number of players available for the match (13 outfield players and one goalkeeper), the board accepted the club’s application.
“The decision is a result of a combination of Covid-19, existing and recent injuries and players on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“All clubs are able to apply for a postponement if Covid infections are a factor in their request.”
An Arsenal statement added: “We are disappointed to announce that the North London derby at
Tottenham has been postponed. We know how much this match means to fans around the world.
“But the Premier League has made the decision to postpone the match, due to many players across our squad currently being unavailable as a result of Covid, existing and recent injuries, in addition to players away with their countries at Afcon.”
Arteta said on Friday that Arsenal’s “intention is always to play” and when asked about when the amount of postponements becomes a genuine threat to the top-flight’s integrity, the Gunners boss admitted he thinks we are already there.
He said: “I think it has already. You talk about a team that is behind by those numbers. It’s not the same level of competition. It’s not the same level of availability.
“I don’t know when they’re going to play those games. It changes things.
“It’s not the regulations we are used to.we’re trying to adapt, everyone’s trying to do their best – but it’s a big question mark.”
Some managers are calling for clubs responsible for a game being called off not to be allowed to use players signed after the original date of the rearranged fixture.
Arteta, though, insists that is too complicated to implement and not the priority.
The Spaniard added: “You can question how many Covid players you had. Or the manager, he was sick, he could not be on the bench.
“You could argue for anything. It’s already difficult. For me, this is the least of the problems.”