Arteta the innovator: ‘Let’s have 10 subs’

Apart from being a great coach, Arsenal’s boss Mikel Arteta, is also a thinker. The Spanish tactician had some interesting thoughts about improving the game of football, and after the first one, here comes the second great idea – having more substitutes during the games. The first genius idea was also his, and that was to change goalkeepers during the matches. It was still the time when Aaron Ramsdale was the first keeper, and Raya was on the bench, so the Spaniard suggested he could change goalies during the games. Needless to say, he didn’t, he just went with Raya as his Number 1 and never looked back, even in situations when the Spanish keeper made mistakes during the games.

And now he has another great idea, but this one is kind of global – to extend the number of subs from five to ten. From next season, every side that qualifies for the Champions League will play at least eight matches, while from 2025, there will be an expanded 32-team Club World Cup.

"If we have more games, more competitiveness and physically the standards are higher -- by playing more minutes -- we have to do that increase the squad size or instead of five subs, we have 10. The five subs is now something normal but it was a big fight to go from three to five. I cannot imagine the game in the conditions we are in today after last year and the World Cup without five subs, it would be so difficult. If the calendar extends, for sure we would have to think of not dropping the quality. The only way to do it is players have to have certain availability and you need players to pick" said the Spaniard ahead of the game with Sheffield.

Hamstrung Jesus!

But the more practical reason is another injury to both Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey, who suffered a hamstring and muscle injury and will miss several weeks.

"The scan shows that there is a muscle injury for Jesus and we might lose him for a few weeks again. With Gabby I cannot give you any timeframe because he always surprises us, but there is something there. He felt it in a really awkward action and it's true he's had quite a lot of load in the last few weeks with the national team and then playing those games, which he hasn't done in a long, long time. That's really bad news for us. Partey has more tests today but he picked up that injury in a training session with the last kick of the ball before Sevilla, so very unfortunate" he said.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 10

Friday

Crystal Palace - Tottenham 1-2 (0-0)

/Ayew 90+4 - Ward 53, Son 66/

Saturday

14:30: (1.62) Chelsea (3.80) Brentford (5.80)

17:00: (1.13) Arsenal (8.50) Sheffield Utd (19.0)

17:00: (2.20) Bournemouth (3.50) Burnley (3.45)

19:30: (4.70) Wolverhampton (3.70) Newcastle (1.85)

Sunday

15:00: (2.10) West Ham (3.45) Everton (3.50)

16:00: (1.28) Aston Villa (5.90) Luton (9.50)

16:00: (1.55) Brighton (4.40) Fulham (6.50)

16:00: (1.28) Liverpool (5.90) Nott.Forest (9.50)

17:30: (5.50) Man.Utd. (3.70) Man.City (1.67)

***odds are subject to change***