Arsenal fixture list a terrifying test for Mikel Arteta

Football matches in sequence over a short space of time is… normal. Every club in the Premier League and across Europe has it, although the added strain of the Christmas period cranks the intensity up for sides like Arsenal.

That’s all done and dusted, with surprising success for the Gunners, as attentions now turn to February/March. The dreaded time of the year if you’re of an Arsenal affiliation.

As cup competitions enter the latter stages, the knockout period of the Europa League and Champions League kicks in and Premier League aims being to be realised or shattered into a thousand pieces, it really is the nitty gritty. Fortunately(?) the Gunners have already kissed goodbye to domestic cups.

For Arsenal, the period wouldn’t be all too bad were it not for the outcome of their European fixtures. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the round of 32 tie with Benfica to be played on not one, but two neutral venues. It’s ludicrous.

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Arsenal’s fixture list presents a terrifying test for Mikel Arteta and his team in a season-defining period of the campaign

In these circumstances there is little that can be done. Safety has to be taken into account and rules adhered to, but the decision to play in two different venues on other sides of Europe instead of one single venue over four days, playing it as a one-off game or at least scrapping away goals is pure madness.

What it does is crank up the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side, who will play in Rome, London, Athens and Leicester in the space of 11 days. The upcoming fixture list even after that is a terrifying prospect.

Arsenal upcoming fixture list:

• Benfica (A*) – 18/02/21
• Manchester City (H) – 21/02/21
• Benfica (H*) – 25/02/21
• Leicester (A) – 28/02/21
• Burnley (A) – 06/03/21
• Tottenham (H) – 13/03/21
• West Ham (A) – 20/03/21

After this daunting and season-defining stretch of four games is complete, Arsenal are afforded the welcome luxury of a full week break in between Premier League outings.

Under normal circumstances results against by far the best side in the country this season and another team not lagging too far behind wouldn’t mould the outlook of the campaign. Yet given the state of Arsenal’s current league position and the strength of the sides above them, it’s hard to see where anything other than victories will keep their faint European hopes alive.

This, of course, while navigating their way through two Benfica clashes in Rome and Athens. Just the casual 3,000 mile round trip for the latter. No Thomas Partey or Kieran Tierney adds fuel to an unwelcome fire.

With depth that proved its worth against Leeds, and a Gabriel Martinelli who has yet to be fully unleashed, the options are there for rotation. Manchester City and Leicester’s own European exploits make for a level playing field – quality aside – and the same can be said for Benfica who do make up one half of this tie after all.

As per usual in this part of the season so much hinges on what happens over the next two weeks. It’s a test of game management and motivation for Arteta, dedication and application for the players, and keeping nerves in check for the supporters.