The FA Cup is special... but the Premier League title has to take absolute priority for an Arsenal squad managing a raft of injuries ahead of their trip to Southampton
Mikel Arteta
Arteta faces some difficult decisions(Image: GLYN KIRK, AFP via Getty Images)
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Mikel Arteta has some tough decisions to make in a defining week of Arsenal’s season. Arsenal are still in the hunt for the Treble and play in all three competitions over eight days, starting with the FA Cup quarter final at Southampton on Saturday.
Then it is Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter final next Tuesday and then Bournemouth on the Saturday lunchtime at 12.30pm.
How on earth does the Arsenal manager juggle such a tired, fatigued squad? And can you or should you prioritise in this incredible, potentially history-making season?
Arsenal, don’t forget, have won the FA Cup more times than any other club. A record 14 times. Arsene Wenger himself won it a record seven times.
It is a competition in the fabric of the club, it is English football’s prized possession and any FA Cup weekend provides stories, drama and excitement.
But Arsenal also have such an opportunity in the Champions League - which they have never won before - and if they can overcome such a tricky fixture against Bournemouth they would go 12 points clear of Manchester City who play at Chelsea the following day.
So when it comes to dilemmas, Arteta has huge choices. The international break became like an episode of Casualty for Arsenal because there were so many injured players on the treatment table.
William Saliba, Gabriel, Eberechi Eze, Jurrien Timber, Leandro Trossard, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi and Piero Hincapie. Martin Odegaard’s knee issue meant he was not available for Norway either.
So many of those have knocks or niggles because they have played so many games. There was a 'wink, wink' attitude about Rice and Saka but they are genuine injuries which they have been carrying and continue to be dogged by them.
Eze could be back quicker than expected but not for this weekend. Madueke’s knee is nowhere near as bad as first feared but he will not be risked before he is ready.
London, United Kingdom - March 17: Mikel Arteta of Arsenal FC celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Arsenal Stadium on March 17, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
London, United Kingdom - March 17: Mikel Arteta of Arsenal FC celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Arsenal Stadium on March 17, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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It leaves you playing a game of who might play against Southampton. Here’s one theory: Kepa Arrizabalaga; Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Christian Norgaard, Martin Odegaard; Max Dowman, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus.
Maybe Viktor Gyokeres could come into the equation. Kai Havertz could play in the No.10. Rice is closer than Saka. Odegaard might welcome a game to get sharpness. It is still strong and there would be lots of youngsters on the bench.
The squad is still big. But it raises the question as to where the FA Cup fits for Arsenal. Can they realistically do the Treble? The answer is definitely yes. But surely the title now takes priority over everything.
If they win the title for the first time in 22 years then it would be an incredible, unforgettable achievement for Arsenal and Arteta. Some pundits talk about only winning one as if is some sort of consolation prize. What nonsense. It would be fabulous.
However, there is this opportunity which clubs so rarely get of multiple trophies which make the season unforgettable. They go down in history. Arsenal won the Double - the league and FA Cup - in 1971, 1998 and 2002. Those players are legends and the memories live forever.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are two of many Arsenal stars who pulled out of international duty(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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That is why Saturday and the trip to Southampton matters. And it matters even more after Arsenal’s last game ended in defeat in the Carabao Cup final. Can you imagine the negativity if they blow two parts of the quadruple in consecutive games?
But Arsenal will have an eye on Sporting and that Bournemouth game. If Arsenal win then it puts enormous pressure on City. It is 12 points and City go to Chelsea the next day. It is so hard to win a tough game when you are chasing and the other team have won.
This mess does throw up another ridiculous thing about this season. The fixture list. It is brutal. We complain about the number of games and demands. Yet the international break is followed by the FA Cup.
Arsenal’s last league game was Everton on Saturday, February 14. City’s was West Ham on the same day. They both had their games postponed the following weekend because of the Carabao Cup final.
But by the time Arsenal face Bournemouth, it will be their first Premier League game in 28 days. City’s Prem fixture at Chelsea the next day means it is 29 for them.
In a season where Thomas Tuchel is worried about burnout for England’s World Cup chances, we have somehow managed this crazy schedule. You might call it a mini break. Not really with other games sandwiched.
But even if it was, it means all the other fixtures are squeezed in so clubs chasing trophies play every three days in huge chunks of the season. That is when you get injuries and burnout. And that is the biggest threat to English football.
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