Arsenal players in spotlight as FIFPRO sounds alarm on player workload

May 26 : Arsenal's triumphant campaign has become an unlikely poster child for soccer's escalating workload crisis, with players' union FIFPRO warning deep runs across competitions are taking a toll on players through increased injury risk in a World Cup year.

Arsenal's success story comes with a sobering statistic, with five players - David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze - projected to feature in 78 to 83 matchday squads this season for club and country.

Midfielder Zubimendi has borne the heaviest burden, appearing in all 38 Premier League games as Arsenal claimed the title while racking up 67 appearances across all competitions for the club and Spain - more than any other player.

Rice has played 65 games and Gyokeres 63, with the trio set to add more with the Champions League final and the World Cup approaching. Arsenal also reached the League Cup final and FA Cup quarter-finals this season.

"There is evidence to suggest that workload is a real issue, we have years of data to support it," Darren Burgess, a high-performance consultant for FIFPRO and Juventus performance director, told reporters.

"We know injuries are now workload-related. Workload is increasing year after year even though we have evidence it's detrimental."

NOT JUST ABOUT PLAYER MINUTES

The issue extends beyond mere minutes on the pitch, Burgess explained, while travel also takes an additional toll, especially for midweek European fixtures.

"Players involved in midweek matches don't return home until 3 or 4 am... They play on Wednesday night and they're being asked to perform on Saturday at midday, travelling away," he added.

"The data shows their physical output during games is compromised when they play back-to-back