Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has offered his verdict on his side's hectic schedule with their trip to Leeds United on Sunday coming just three days after travelling to Norway to face Bødo/Glimt in the Europa League.
The Gunners have already played 12 games across all competitions but have also seen a handful postponed in both the Premier League and Europa League for various reasons, meaning that should they progress far in the four competitions they will be involved in over the course of the season then fatigue will definitely be an issue to deal with.
Those associated with Leeds will be hoping that fatigue will already be starting to kick in in the Gunners' camp with the Whites in need of a win having gone five league matches without one, picking up just two points in the process.
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However, Arteta's men are top of the Premier League having won eight of their nine matches thus far and will arguably provide Jesse Marsch's men with their toughest test yet.
Speaking ahead of the match, the Spaniard said: "I think it is already here [fatigue], but I think after the World Cup it is going to be even worse, so I think it is good preparation for what is coming.
"We’ll give them some ideas, some video, keep them active to recover well and that’s it. There is no time so we have to travel back to London, and then travel to Leeds. We’ll have an activation on Saturday but it’s not really a training session, it’s not possible."
The Gunners boss added: "Now, the trick is how are we going to prepare for Leeds, mentally and physically. It’s going to be a battle - we know the way they play and how intense it is going to be and the crowd that they have, so it’s going to be a challenge. We have to be at our best again to win there."
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