Lineker, who earned 80 caps for England, admitted that while managers often pull the strings, the final decision frequently rests with the individuals in the dressing room. However, he acknowledged the immense pressure exerted by club coaches to stay at home during non-competitive windows. "All managers have done that but generally it’s down to the players," Lineker added. "The manager would always pressure you to pull out of friendlies in particular. It happened to me a couple of times and on both occasions I said no chance."
Even with City still retaining a game in hand, Arsenal's current nine-point advantage at the top of the table means the stakes have never been higher. The north London side recently suffered a setback in the Carabao Cup final against Pep Guardiola’s men, a result that served as a stern reminder of the thin margins at the top of the game. Maintaining a fully fit squad for the run-in is clearly Arteta's top priority.