Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has slammed the Premier League for its 'unfair' scheduling of his side's matches, claiming the Gunners are the only team affected by fixture congestion.
The Champions League hopefuls take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime in what will be their third game in six days.
Arteta's Arsenal, chasing their first top-four finish since 2016, have another tricky run next month.
They face back-to-back away trips to Southampton and Chelsea before a crunch home clash with Champions League qualification rivals Manchester United - all within the space of a week.
Speaking following their 2-0 loss to Liverpool last night, Arteta sarcastically thanked the Premier League for the schedule they have been handed.
'Thank you so much to the Premier League for doing that,' he said.
'And they've done it again when we have to play Chelsea and Manchester United. So if they want to give them any advantage, I say to them today: 'Thank you so much for doing that'.
'It is always it's BT, it's Sky, it is this, it's that.
'But the one that is affected is Arsenal and the only thing that I care [about] and we care [about] is Arsenal. And for Arsenal it is not fair.'
Arteta, a frequent critic of the Premier League's fixture scheduling, insisted his team would not be affected by the hectic nature of their calendar.
The former Arsenal midfielder vowed the Gunners - who are not playing in Europe this season and were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round - will be '100 per cent' ready for the match against Villa this weekend.
Arsenal occupy fourth spot in the Premier League, a point clear of Man United in fifth.
'Don't worry the players on Saturday they will be there, with energy,' Arteta said.
'They will eat, sleep well, but thank you so much to the Premier League for putting the fixtures like this. Very, very helpful.'
DIEGOELVIS
526
arteta is doing great with arsenal after years of patience and he's really a good manager that's why pep had him in Manchester City.
suuacopy
258
why can the fixture schedule be unfair but Chelsea when complaints u the same people said it's fine now you've seen the pressure of this competition fixture schedule? look at Chelsea playing on Wednesday an away game they news to land to there home London Thursday Friday training and Saturday playing a crucial game knockout,but no Matter Chelsea how they can complain bathing is being heard by FA,EPL FIFA and we do play with not complaints, even after Chelsea was hits with 7 players with covid 19 and 6 injuries tried to postpone amoe matches but not at all,but Man u with 2 covid and the game's was postponed for man u.Chelsea for life