Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte was left unimpressed by Mikel Arteta’s recent comments regarding his team’s fixture congestion in the Premier League. The Italian hit back at his counterpart in a recent media appearance.
Arteta raised more than a few eyebrows with his recent comments about his team’s grievance with fixture congestion. Without European football this season, the Gunners have had to play one game per week, a far lower tally than some of their immediate competitors in the division, but the Spaniard stood by his comments in a recent media appearance, claiming that he was talking specifically about the league.
“I’m talking about the Premier League. When you are in Europe, it’s a different story. What I’m comparing is the Premier League and it’s very different.”
“We’re the only team that has been scheduled like that. Again, I’m not talking about Europe because some of those teams are not going to be involved in Europe.”
said the Spanird in a recent press conference.
Arteta earned the ire of his Tottenham counterpart with his comments. Conte reminded Arteta about a North London Derby, planned for earlier this season, that his team had rescheduled owing to a Covid-19 case among their ranks while citing lack of personnel to make up the squad ahead of the game.
“Arteta should remember the game postponed. Tottenham-Arsenal,”
“In general, I think my answer is enough. If someone wants to think about fair or unfair. We postponed the game, Tottenham-Arsenal. I don’t forget this. And it’s not right to speak about fair or unfair.”
Conte said.
Arsenal are having to play three games in three games in seven days in the league, two of which they have already completed – a win and a loss against Leicester City and Liverpool, respectively. In lieu of a FA Cup quarterfinal fixture, the Gunners are also in action in the league this weekend, taking on Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.
Arteta’s side is in back-to-back league action on the other side of the international break, too, with Crystal Palace up against them on April 4 and Brighton & Hove Albion on April 9.