The North London derby was called off on Saturday because Arsenal were unable to field a team. Unable to field a team? The Premier League is the richest, most extravagant, most excessive, best-resourced and most lavishly talented league in the world and we are supposed to believe one of its biggest clubs cannot field a team?
It makes them sound like a pub league outfit scratching around for ringers because one of the lads was late back from his milk round and a couple more were too hungover to get out of bed.
The ravages of Covid-19 are not to be dismissed lightly, but it is obvious that Premier League clubs who have precipitated the recent epidemic of postponements could still put a side out.
The spirit of the rule governing applying for postponements was designed around clubs stricken with Covid outbreaks that might decimate a squad. They were not designed to allow a club to cope with an injury or suspension or to buy time until players get back from the Africa Cup of Nations.
So, yes, Premier League clubs’ playing resources may be stretched. They may not be able to put out their first team but that should not be a reason to seek postponement. The truth, sadly, is that Covid-19 is not at the nub of what is afflicting these clubs. The truth is that they are sick with cynicism.
There is no point blaming Arsenal in particular as they are only doing what other clubs have done before them. And it is perhaps unfair even to say that the clubs are abusing the rule that the Premier League have put in place for asking for a match to be called off. But if they are not abusing it, they are taking advantage of it, and in the process undermining the credibility and image of the league.
The law, in this case, is an ass. With the resources that our top flight clubs possess, it is an insult to our intelligence to claim that any of them cannot muster 13 or more outfield players. The players are there, it is just that the parameters for picking Under 21s, say, are too restrictive. The Premier League need to adapt their rules so they more closely resemble the FA Cup guidelines.
Let’s be honest about it, too: the clubs do not help themselves. Arsenal are pleading poverty of resources, particularly in midfield, and yet it is little more than a week ago that they sent Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Roma on loan. Maitland-Niles plays in midfield.
It is also only a few days since Arsenal held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield in the Carabao Cup. The postponement rules were not designed to come to their rescue because Granit Xhaka was sent off again and so is suspended or because Bukayo Saka, who might just be their best player, picked up an injury. Those aren’t reasons for postponement. Those are reasons for sucking up a bit of adversity.
If the Premier League wants to help clubs suffering Covid outbreaks — which is a noble instinct — it should relax the eligibility rules, so its teams can draw on the full extent of their resources. They need to make these changes fast.
The rash of last-minute postponements, which seem to be growing rather than abating, is alienating disillusioned fans who no longer have any faith that matches they have bought train tickets, plane tickets and match tickets for will actually take place.
It is time for the Premier League to wrest back control. It is time for the clubs to be told that it is time to stop cowering behind bad rules and get on with it.