Mikel Arteta’s team will leave London only once between now and late January, while Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City face extensive travel during the busiest stretch of the season.
This time last year, Mikel Arteta was planning a mid-season trip to Dubai to reinvigorate Arsenal’s season.
But now, he is relying on the comfort of home over the next six weeks to give them an advantage in the title race. As the Gunners prepare for tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Monaco at the Emirates, their three main domestic rivals will be traveling extensively, facing a grueling schedule as the busy festive fixture list unfolds.
From returning after their 5-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon at the end of November to their trip to Wolves in late January, Arteta’s team will have traveled less than 200 miles for 14 matches.
Despite dealing with several key injuries, staying within a short distance, with Brighton being the farthest destination, is relatively light work compared to the extensive travel facing Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arne Slot’s league-leading team.
Chelsea left Tottenham on Sunday evening having firmly established themselves as legitimate title contenders, but with the looming challenge of a trip to the south-eastern tip of Kazakhstan on their minds.
Enzo Maresca plans to keep many of his key players at home for Thursday’s Conference League match against Astana, but those who embark on the 8,500-mile round trip to Almaty will face a grueling turnaround.
To help with recovery, Sunday’s Premier League clash against Brentford has been rescheduled to 7 pm, maximizing the time for rest. However, crossing five time zones will take a significant mental and physical toll.
Up until now, Maresca has separated his squad into two groups—one for league matches and another for cup competitions. But with these upcoming demands, he may need to blend the squads more; as he told his second-string players last week, “there will be ample chances to shine.”
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