Mikel Arteta Calls for Bigger Premier League Matchday Squads

Mikel Arteta has renewed his call for bigger Premier League matchday squads, insisting the current limits are out of step with the demands placed on modern players.

“I've been trying to persuade the Premier League and the clubs to be able to extend the number of players that we can have, especially the outfield players in the squads because we play more and more games and the load is unreal,” the Arsenal manager said. “Not giving the chance to those players to be able to be here to participate because maybe it demands the qualities of one of those players and we don't have them available.”

Arteta cut a frustrated figure as he explained the reality of leaving senior professionals in the stands purely because of the 20-man cap.

“It’s just a shame so it's the most difficult part of the job,” he admitted. “But there's nothing to do with that, it's just a fact that we can bring 18 outfield players and we believe that for today's game these were the options that we needed, especially with the physical condition of certain players.”

While he wrestles with selection headaches, speculation around his attacking options rumbles on. Napoli had been expected to accelerate their pursuit of Arsenal’s No9 once Romelu Lukaku departed, yet that anticipated push has not materialised so far.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, forward reshuffles remain on the table. One high-profile striker is still finding his feet at Old Trafford after a summer move from Bologna in July 2024, his adaptation under close scrutiny. At Stamford Bridge, Standard Sport report that Chelsea would be prepared to cash in on Nicolas Jackson if a suitable offer lands on the table.

Squad sizes, transfer manoeuvres, players fighting for minutes: the battle for the right options is no longer confined to the pitch.