Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted that a radical change is coming to football, suggesting that matches could be shortened as a response to the intense fixture congestion.
The Champions League group stage has already seen an increase from six to eight games this season, and with players like Manchester City's Rodri, who suffered a season-ending knee injury, warning of potential strikes due to the packed schedule, the issue is becoming critical.
Arsenal's own Jurrien Timber, who missed nine months last year due to a knee injury, has labelled the current calendar "dangerous".
Ahead of the Gunners' Premier League game against Everton, Arteta discussed the future of the sport, stating: "It is going to be very constrained and very related to new regulations and new rules."
He acknowledged that with the growing number of games, squad depth will be crucial and talked up the idea of reducing match length from 90 minutes when asked about potential solutions to prevent injuries.
"That’s an option," Arteta said. "We have changed the Champions League format, to play more games, home and away, so it is a very real possibility I think."
As Arsenal prepare to face Everton in their third of seven fixtures this month, they aim to close the six-point gap with league leaders Liverpool, despite having played one more game.
The Gunners are riding high after a resounding 3-0 victory over Monaco in the Champions League, with star player Bukayo Saka netting twice and boosting his season's direct goal contributions to an impressive 21.
Only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah surpasses him with 28 in the Premier League.
Saka's scintillating performances have sparked comparisons to football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with suggestions that he might shift to a more central role.
Arteta weighed in on the prospect: "That will depend a lot on the qualities and the players who are around him.
"For somebody to be an inside instead of an outside, somebody has to be outside and that player, that full-back, that attacking midfielder and nine has to allow the space to do that. But I’m certainly very open to keep evolving players."