Jorginho responds to Man City and Liverpool claims ahead of Arsenal Champions League tie

Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has responded to comments on the increased football workload after Manchester City midfielder Rodri and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson criticised the amount of matches in the calendar.

The Gunners could play around 60-65 matches if they are successful in the Champions League and go deep in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season. Adding to the 38 in the Premier League, a maximum of 27 more matches are on the agenda if Mikel Arteta's side reach the final of the other three competitions.

Alongside this, a number of Arsenal players will also be required to play matches for their respective countries. Nations will play up to 10 games across the 2024/25 season, including a short international break a couple of weeks after the end of the Premier League campaign.

Considering there is only around 40 weeks from the start of the Premier League season until the final international period, that is a lot of football for players to go and compete on a regular basis, but Jorginho has offered a measured approach to the loaded fixture schedule.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Arsenal's trip to Atalanta in the Champions League, he said: "We work so hard to be here at this level and we dreamed to be here, so if the situation is like this we need to play these games and we will always try our best to deliver."

This is a complete contrasting answer to Rodri, who slammed the increasing number of matches in the football scheduled and warned that players could go on 'strike' if the situation is not improved.

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Asked if players could ever strike or refuse to play, the influential Spain international said: "I think we are close to that. I think if you ask any player he will say the same. It is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. I think it's the general opinion of the players.

"And if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we have no other option, I really think, but let's see. I don't know what's going to happen but it's something that worries us because we are the guys that suffer."

Meanwhile, Alisson shared a similar opinion and criticised the sheer number of games played in the football calendar. "For the supporters, it is amazing. More games, more bigger games, big teams against each other," he said. For us players as well, it is good that you are going to play against the best in Europe – and it is always a good idea to add some games to the calendar that is not busy… I am being ironic a little bit.

"Nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games so maybe our opinion does not matter. But everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody is tired of that. But we have to bring those kind of things on side and stay focused on the big challenge we have here."