‘This is a no win situation’ - Mikel Arteta criticises reaction to Arsenal postponement of north London derby

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his club has “never, ever questioned” when matches have been called off after criticising the reaction to the postponement of their north London derby with Tottenham. It is understood they had just one Covid case but took advantage of Premier League rules put in place on the number of minimum available players needed for a match to take place, with squad members out because of injury, suspension and international duty. Ad/> Spurs said they were “extremely surprised” by the decision, while boss Antonio Conte went further when he said: “If the Premier League decides to postpone games for injury, it means that maybe they have to try to make a best schedule and to reduce many to play games.

This the first time in my life that there is a league that has postponed the game for injuries. It is very strange and surprising.” League CupArteta applauds 10-man Arsenal’s ‘brotherhood’ after battling goalless draw13/01/2022 AT 23:05 But Arteta has come out fighting following criticism that they may have been gaming the system. «We didn't have the players necessary to put a squad out to compete in a Premier League match, that is 100 per cent guaranteed,» Arteta said.

/> “I am telling you what we’ve done, when a team has come to us and said we cannot play and these are the reasons why we cannot play and the game has been postponed, we have never, ever publicly questioned any of that and we will not. “That’s why we have the Premier League and the other regulators, to consider and find out and do their due diligence to postpone a match, to try and maintain the fairness of the competition. «We have been very consistent.