Mikel Arteta hits out at Premier League fixture schedule as Arsenal face tight turnaround after Liverpool loss

Mikel Arteta has hit out at the Premier League over the scheduling of Arsenal’s fixtures.

The Gunners took on Liverpool on Wednesday night, losing 2-0, and they now face a quick turnaround before taking on Aston Villa in a Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

It is a similar situation next month, when Arsenal face Chelsea on a Wednesday night before a clash with Manchester United at Saturday lunchtime.

Arteta is unhappy with that scheduling, labelling it unfair and sarcastically thanking them for the tight fixtures.

“Thank you so much to the Premier League to do that,” said Arteta, who interjected a question about the tight turnaround to Aston Villa on Saturday.

“And they’ve done it again when we have to play Chelsea and Manchester United. So if they want to give them any advantage, I say to them today: ‘Thank you so much for doing that’.

“Don’t worry the players on Saturday they will be there, with energy. They will eat, sleep well, but thank you so much to the Premier League for putting the fixtures like this. Very, very helpful.”

Asked if Arsenal made a case to the Premier League about the fixtures, Arteta said: “Yes, absolutely, because it is not fair. It is not fair what they have done.

“It is always it’s BT, it’s Sky, it is this, it’s that. But the one that is affected is Arsenal and the only thing that I care [about] and we care [about] is Arsenal. And for Arsenal it is not fair.”