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England manager Thomas Tuchel has said he believes Arsenal will have a "huge" advantage in next season's Premier League title race due to not playing in the Club World Cup.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of his side's friendly clash with Senegal, the Three Lions boss feels the Gunners and reigning champions Liverpool will have the upper hand over Manchester City and Chelsea in the hunt for the league title with the latter sides having extended campaigns due to FIFA's new-look tournament.
He theorised that Arsenal and their 2024/25 title rivals will be much fresher than their rivals come the start of the new season and feels the full effect of the Club World Cup may not be known until this time next year once the league has been won and England begin final preparations for the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel offers interesting Arsenal title prediction ahead of Club World Cup
In his England press conference, Tuchel said: "I think it [the Club World Cup] will have a huge impact and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there,"
The ex-Chelsea manager admitted the tournament will be a good experience for players, but acknowledged how it is affecting his Three Lions squad members.
"I think it will be a very nice experience for the players who are there, to play this tournament for the first time. So it is mixed feelings about it.
"After a long season, they feel the tiredness. Harry [Kane] said he felt like coming [to England's training camp] after one week would have been much harder.
"It was easier to come after two weeks. It gave him a kind of refreshment, and there were many players who came back after one week, and they said 'Ah, we were just getting into holiday mode, and now we put the boots back on.'"
It's fair to say Tuchel's point is a valid one. At a time where so much is asked of footballers, to be adding more games on in the time that is intended to be the off-season is incredibly demanding and can have an effect on the aims of teams.
Starting the Club World Cup in the group stage, Chelsea and Manchester City will play at least three games in the United States, but that could rise to seven if either side reach the final. The concluding match of the tournament is set to take place on 13 July, just 33 days before the Premier League season starts on 15 August.
That is a limited amount of time for players to have an adequate rest period, as well as participating in what would be a rushed pre-season campaign. There is a real possibility both teams will head into the league season either underprepared or suffering from exhaustion and that could prevent them from hitting the ground running.
Of course, this all comes down to theory and perception, but it's difficult to disagree with Tuchel. Arsenal and Liverpool have finished their campaigns and don't begin pre-season preparations for a while so they will be a step ahead of their rivals, who still have a lot of football to play. That is something Mikel Arteta and his Gunners squad will have to capitalise on this projected advantage come the beginning of the season.