Not sure we can blame this drop in form on anything but self inflicted squad issues and a failure to perform in any sort of adversity.
In terms of tiredness, yes the players might well be tired but compared to who? No Europe for us this season although we did have a run in the League Cup. Every side gets tired over the Christmas break.
Please correct this in the comments if wrong (I'll update the article) but these were the players missing today:
Leno - Bench player
Cedric - Bench player
Mari - Bench player
Chambers - Bench player
Xhaka - First team / Suspended
Partey - First team / Suspended
Pepe - Bench / AFCON
Elneny - Bench / AFCON
Aubameyang / AFCON
Alright, it's not ideal but Burnley are bottom of the table with no notable forwards available.
After today we need maximum points from Wolves, Brentford and Watford otherwise Arteta's head should be back on the chopping block.
Excuses
posted on 23/1/22
Every side gets tired over the Christmas break.
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Really? Most sides were taking breaks while we continued despite covid taking a chunk of our squad out. Most teams rotate over that time, but we couldn't.
Our opponents have had 2 weeks off while we played a couple of days previous, so compared to them for a start.
posted on 24/1/22
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 24 minutes ago
Every side gets tired over the Christmas break.
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Really? Most sides were taking breaks while we continued despite covid taking a chunk of our squad out. Most teams rotate over that time, but we couldn't.
Our opponents have had 2 weeks off while we played a couple of days previous, so compared to them for a start.
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Burnley who are bottom, operating on a micro budget compared to ours and were missing any notable fowards. But we're not only against Burnley we need to take advantage of our rivals for top four performing so badly they sacked their managers. Today was up there with one of the kindest fixtures we could have (bar say an injury ravaged Leeds or Norwich)
In terms of rest, it's not like we didn't also got a game suspended.
Before Christmas we had no one away at the AFCON, we also had several players available who are now loaned out. We made 7 changes for the Forest game to give players a rest.
If the team is so tired we can't conquer the mighty Burnley at home we have to look at how the club is managing its squad.
Like I said, the next three games are now make or break for Arteta. All very winnable
posted on 24/1/22
Wolves away is hardly winnable
posted on 24/1/22
We made 7 changes for the Forest game to give players a rest.
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Tierney, Laca and Ramsdale were the only ones "rested" and Tierney came on after about 30 minutes.
The rest were injured or suspended or at AfCON.
Burnley were fresh and had all their defensive players available. Vydra and Jay-Rod are "notable forwards". Burnley is never an easy ride, and with the fatigue and injuries, were one of the worst teams we could have faced. Their position at the bottom is massively skewed by games played.
posted on 24/1/22
Wolves away is hardly winnable
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If there's any chance of top four it has to be a winnable game. Hopefully we will be in better shape when that game comes around. We hopefully go into that game with a bit of confidence, we should of got a result there last season and won there the year before so there should be no fear.
posted on 24/1/22
Getting players in early during January is easier said than done. But we knew about afcon, so you’d have thought the club would be looking at midfield earlier to cover us in January, especially as we probably knew Niles would have to go