The Arsenal boss believes shorter matches are a possibility
The Arsenal boss believes shorter matches are a possibility
A football match lasts 90 minutes - but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes it is a “very real possibility” that they could be shortened in future.
Whether that's 80 minutes, 60 minutes, whatever figure, is unclear. And certainly there is little in the pipeline among the game's governing bodies.
But with the Champions League group stage having expanded from six matches to eight this season and Manchester City star Rodri - before he ruptured his ACL, ruling him out for the season - warning players could strike as further pressure is added on players' shoulders, fixture congestion is an ever-increasing groan among players and managers. Arsenal's Jurrien Timber, sidelined for nine months last season with a knee injury, has also described the current schedule as “dangerous”
Now Arteta, speaking ahead of his side’s Premier League clash against Everton at the Emirates on Saturday, raised the prospect of matches being reduced.
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When asked how football might evolve in the future, the Spaniard said: “It is going to be very constrained and very related to new regulations and new rules. Because with the amount of games we are going to have to play, the type of squad you are going to have is going to be vital.”
It was then put to Arteta that games could become shorter to avoid injuries amid the increased number of matches. He replied: “That’s an option. We have changed the Champions League format, to play more games, home and away, so it is a very real possibility I think.”
Arsenal host the Toffees in their third match of seven this month, trailing Liverpool by six points at the top of the Premier League table, having played one match more.
They do so with Bukayo Saka in red hot form, having put Monaco to the sword in the Champions League with a double in midweek, taking his direct goal contributions for the season so far to a remarkable 21. Only Mohamed Salah, with 28, has managed more among Premier League players.
Now the England international's future playing out wide has been questions - with suggestions he could step into a central role, ala Lionel Messi, in his quest for higher and higher outputs. Arteta responded: “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.”
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