Paul Merson believes former club Arsenal are going to have to 'sacrifice' their FA Cup third round tie with Manchester United next month, just so they are able to cope with their congested fixture schedule.
Mikel Arteta's team swept aside Crystal Palace 5-1 on Saturday evening, however it came with a cost. Top goal contributor Bukayo Saka was forced off injured massaging his right hamstring with only 24 minutes gone.
"He felt something in his hamstring, he couldn't continue. He will have to be assessed so really worried about that one," his manager conceded after the final whistle.
The extent of the winger's fresh issue will be revealed in time, but Sky Sports pundits began to look ahead at Arsenal's next 12 fixtures in all competitions to see which big meetings Saka could miss.
In that run, they play:
Ipswich Town (H) - Premier League - Dec 27
Brentford (A) - Premier League - Jan 1
Brighton (A) - Premier League - Jan 4
Newcastle United (H) - Carabao Cup SF first leg - Jan 7/8
Manchester United (H) - FA Cup third round - Jan 12
Tottenham Hotspur (H) - Premier League - Jan 15
Aston Villa (H) - Premier League - Jan 18
Dinamo Zagreb (H) - Champions League - Jan 22
Wolves (A) - Premier League - Jan 25
Girona (A) - Champions League - Jan 29
Manchester City (H) - Premier League - Feb 2
Newcastle United (A) - Carabao Cup SF second leg - Feb 4/5
"You look at probably the Man United game in the FA Cup and go ‘you know what? That’s the game we’re probably to have to sacrifice’," Merson announced.
That third round tie between the old rivals is their fifth upcoming fixture. After Christmas they are required to play on all weekends plus the first seven midweek slots of 2025, and of course cup progression will only mean further congestion.
Thinking they will risk losing matches or further injuries if they don't, Merson added: "I don’t think you can go through them games - Brighton away then Newcastle. If you get through to the semi-final of the Carabao Cup you might as well keep that going if you got that far.
"The Man United game, them for me is a no-go, then you’ve got Tottenham. If you’re a Man United fan looking at that game, we might have a result here."
Given the history of rivalry between the two teams, such a suggestion to throw the match regardless of boosting chances for alternative silverware may not go down too well in North London.