Arsenal dealt Champions League fixture nightmare despite favour from Premier League
Mikel Arteta may feel hard done by when reading how the Premier League fixtures coincide with the Champions League schedule.
Arsenal will have mixed feelings about how their Premier League fixtures coincide with the group stages of the Champions League. The Gunners have been done a favour by the Premier League as they are at home after all of the European matchdays, but their fixtures prior to each match are far from easy – with some nightmare away trips to come before big ties on the continent.
Juggling the two competitions will truly test the depth of the Gunners, and Mikel Arteta will certainly be considering how he rotates his team after the Premier League fixtures were confirmed on Thursday morning. The Spaniard is attempting to address the quality of depth at the club this summer by acquiring the services of Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo and Kai Havertz.
The trio would prove useful in all competitions given their quality, though Arteta must consider how he makes use of his squad given that prior to each Champions League matchday, his side have a tricky away day.
Arsenal will travel to Goodison Park to play Everton prior to their first Champions League group game on September 19/20 before returning for a home match against Tottenham. The Gunners then face Bournemouth away before their second Champions League match on October 3/4 before hosting Manchester City, in what Arteta will be hoping is, on paper, a six-pointer between the title challengers.
Later that month, Arsenal will have to make the trip to Stamford Bridge to face rivals Chelsea just days before their third European match on October 24/25, though Arteta will be hoping he can rest some of his stars upon their return to the Premier League when they host Sheffield United.
Matchday four sees the Gunners travel up to Newcastle just days before taking to the European stage again on November 7/8. Arteta will then be hoping that Burnley aren’t at their best upon his side’s return to the Premier League.
Crunch time in the Champions League comes at ,atchday five (28/29 November), though Arsenal won’t be able to rest players beforehand as they travel to the Gtech Community Stadium just days before to take on Brentford in what is always a tricky fixture for the Gunners.
Their fixture after that, Wolves at home, is somewhat manageable though given that they beat them 5-0 on the final game of the 2022/23 campaign.
Arteta will be hoping that his side have booked their spot in the next round of the competition by the time that gameweek six arrives on December 12/13, namely due to the matches on either side of the fixture.
Arsenal face Aston Villa just days before their final Champions League group game before returning for a home match against Brighton.
