With the Champions League format changing next season, footballers will begin to play more games than usual. Due to this, replays like those in the FA Cup have become unnecessary, and Mikel Arteta agrees that they should be scrapped.
Arsenal has to cope with a high number of matches per season, and their players can become exhausted, with some sustaining unnecessary injuries. Managers have to navigate these tight schedules and keep their players ready for action consistently.
Arsenal will face Liverpool in the FA Cup this evening, and if there is no winner, there will be a replay. That is the last thing either club wants as they compete to win the league, and Arteta agrees that the replays probably have to be scrapped.
He said, as quoted by The Sun:
“I think so.
“We will see what happens because with the new format of the Champions League, there will be more games (to play) so I don’t know how we are going to fit them in.
“The (mini) break will be minimal and we have plans for both scenarios. We want to win the game and we will try to win the game, but that (cancelling replays) has to be considered.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Replays mean more games, and sometimes, it is a struggle to fit some into our routine.
We must do our best to ensure we defeat Liverpool as we play at home, otherwise we might regret it.
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If they play like they did against Fulham and West Ham he won’t need to worry about any replay…
Exactly 💯
If MA is simply saying that he thinks replays will be scrapped, then very sadly, I agree with him.
However, IF he is saying he thinks replays OUGHT to be scrapped, I could not DISAGREE MORE.
Constant needless and undermining changes to how this once mighty competition is run have massively demoted its status among competitions . SIGH!!!
I regard ALL those changes as foolish and retrograde and want NO MORE.
I would, given my way, reinstate ALL the previous changes so thoughtlessly made and restore the FA CUP to its rightful place as a massively prestigious competition.
I would seriously consider whether the league cup needs to be played in by ANY top level clubs, which would free up space.
Why scrap replays. Let them play. How much are people who work life saving jobs paid compared to these over pampered generation of soft skin baby footballers. These players earn undeserved ridiculous amounts of money per week. The least they can do is work for it. Let them play as much as there is to play. Don’t scrap nothing, no gree for them
I can understand Arteta wanting to avoid fixture pile up, but part of FA Cup giant killing magic is to get an away draw to bring the big team to your ground.