Arsenal are set to take on Bodo/Glimt at the Emirates tomorrow night in the Europa League, and Mikel Arteta has insisted that the competition shouldn’t be considered a distraction from the Premier League.
The Gunners currently sit pretty at the top of the Premier League table, with a one-point lead over Manchester City in second, and you could be forgiven for hoping that we drop out of the Europa in order to concentrate on a potential title push.
While many of us are reluctant to admit that we are in the race for the title just yet, the fact remains that we are more than just in contention thus far, and you many are deeming us as odds-on to earn a return to the Champions League via our league position.
The manager insisted while talking to Arsenal Media that playing tomorrow isn’t a hinderence however, and expects the club’s fans to be very-much onside against the Norwegian outfit tomorrow.
“It’s a help. Playing in Europe is always great and tomorrow I think we’re going to have a great atmosphere again at the Emirates. We want to produce those nights and we know that we want to be playing yesterday and today, but at the moment it’s our reality and we have to accept it. It’s part of our next step.
“It’s a test for the squad in terms of the numbers and the quality that you have when you make changes and how much you notice that. At the same time, it’s about how you are able to consistently play at the highest level and demand that of yourself and be successful doing it.
It’s not something that we did last season and it’s something we will have to do this year for different reasons, but I think everybody is going to have to be able to do that after the World Cup, especially with the scheduling that we have.”
Considering we have been using a lot of the squad for the competition thus far, and with the fact that we have kept up a near-perfect run of results in the league so far, I don’t have an issue with us continuing in the EL. After January however, it could well be in our favour to continue using the competition to play our extended squad, as opposed to stretching our first-team stars should we remain as potential league winners.
Do you think we will have to prioritise the Premier League in the new year?
Patrick
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Why would the Europa league be an hindrance, when we get to use the whole squad, help keep everyone fit and save most of the first team for the weekend. CL teams basically play twice a week and have to cope!!!!!! I dont get it. It must be a help to see players play, who may force their way into the first team, it has to be productive.
I agree Reggie.. squad rotation must be utilised .keep everyone up to speed
At this stage of the season it makes sense to me to prioritise both the league and the EL and both Reggie and Kenya001 are right in my view
As for choosing one against the other then I suppose that is dependent on where we are later in the season to a point.
I’d be very surprised if ManC were not at the top by then, even though it pains me to think that way. Haaland is something else. Foden isn’t bad either. City are the complete team
Being in contention for a great finish in the league would take precedence over going for the EL for me. Keep doing as well as possible but the emphasis would be top 2 or 3 and CL football. If we got a place in the ELfinal as well then that would cap a great season
Perspective demands that we realise that each season , we compete for four trophies. EACH ONE THAT IS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY, AS SEEMS TO BE SUGGESTED IN THIS PIECE, leaves one less to win.
I reckon I speak for MOST Gooners in saying we need to be serious about ALL FOUR COMPS we play for..
I accept that come MAY , IF (which is unlikely) we are seriously in the hunt for three or four trophies, then one may have to be taken less seriously, than the most important one, the PREM.
But it is now only early October and so to even hint that we should prioritise one over another comp is, IMO, little short of idiocy. I am content it will not happen