Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made a heartfelt plea to the Premier League, urging officials to expand matchday squad sizes in line with Champions League regulations. The Spanish coach emphasised that increasing the number of outfield players from 18 to 20 would significantly benefit player welfare and squad dynamics.
Arteta's Emotional Appeal for Change
Speaking candidly about the current restrictions, Arteta revealed the emotional toll of excluding players from matchday squads. "At the moment there are two or three players that have to be out of the squad, that's a reality I cannot change," he confessed. "These are the rules of the Premier League next season, instead of 18 outfield players it will be 20. I beg them from here, like it's in the Champions League, because it's much better to manage the squad, to maintain the value of the players, to maintain the mental health of the players."
The Arsenal boss elaborated on the psychological impact, drawing a powerful analogy: "I cannot go to the kitchen tomorrow and say to two of the chefs, today you don't cook, just go there and see how they cook or go home. It's really tough. So someone that wants to feel part of that, he needs to be there. He needs to travel, he needs to be there and he has to have the feeling that he has a chance."
The Champions League Model
Currently, Premier League regulations permit 20 players in matchday squads, while Champions League rules are more flexible. European competition allows for a maximum of 23 named players, with additional provisions for List B players who meet specific youth development criteria. UEFA stipulates that List B players must be born on or after 1 January 2004 and have been eligible for the club for two uninterrupted years or three consecutive years with limited loan periods.
Arteta believes adopting similar flexibility in domestic competition would help clubs manage increasingly demanding schedules. "The demands on games are bigger," he noted. "So we need bigger squads. It doesn't make a lot of sense to restrict that, in my opinion. I think we need to expand that and give the possibility to allow everybody to be part of that."
Arsenal's Squad Management Challenges
Despite possessing what many consider the Premier League's deepest squad, Arsenal have faced injury challenges throughout the season. Recent weeks have brought more positive news, with only Max Dowman currently sidelined. Defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, who missed the midweek Champions League victory over Kairat, are reportedly managing minor issues.
"They are okay," Arteta confirmed regarding his defensive duo. "Obviously, they have played a lot of minutes, they've been carrying a few niggles, and it was a really good opportunity for us to offload them a little bit and refresh them."
Havertz's Encouraging Return
In more positive squad news, Kai Havertz made his first Arsenal start in nearly twelve months during the Champions League fixture, coming through 45 minutes without reaction to his knee issue. The German international made an immediate impact, scoring a brilliant goal and assisting Viktor Gyokeres' opener.
"He's ready, obviously he started the day," Arteta confirmed. "It's been a long period and now we need to manage that load and the games that we're going to select for him to start, but there was no reaction to that. I think it was super positive, you could see straight away the impact that he can have in the team."
Arteta's comments highlight the growing concern among Premier League managers about balancing competitive demands with player welfare. His public appeal represents a significant intervention in the ongoing debate about how English football adapts to increasingly congested schedules while protecting the mental and physical health of players.
