Part 6/7:
A significant portion of the discussion with Arteta also touched upon the broader implications of player fatigue and injury prevalence across football. He pointed to the accumulation of games over seasons and the impact this has on player health. While acknowledging that a reduction in fixtures isn’t likely, he believes improving player resilience and optimizing training could mitigate some challenges.
Arteta raised a crucial point about the necessity for football’s governing bodies to address these concerns seriously, stating that the current player welfare practices should evolve. The physical demands placed on players must be reassessed to ensure long-term sustainability in performance levels.