This could be the point of the season where Arsene Wenger’s policy of playing two completely different Arsenal teams in the Premier League and the Europa League is looking like a stroke of genius, as we just about to face our first Top Six side, Man City, just a few days after they have had a hard game in Naples in midweek, while our First XI have had a full weeks rest as usual.
Pep is worried about tiredness affecting his top players after a gruelling 4-2 win over Napoli. The City boss said: “We need our fans’ support. After the Champions League, it is so tough.
“On Thursday [in the Europa League], Arsenal played without the real squad who are going to play on Sunday, so they rested for one week.
“The lack of energy we will have is normal after the Champions League, so our supporters can help us in that.”
Arsenal fans already know the pitfalls of playing your top players in both competitions and the danger of dropping points following big European games, so our dropping down to 5th last season could end up being a blessing in disguise as our rivals show signs of fatigue.
Maybe Wenger isn’t such an idiot after all! And maybe it is Guardiola that his getting his excuses in early for a change!
Sam P