The big fixtures will come thick and fast for Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal at the start of next season with the Gunners’ first Champions League game sandwiched between an away North London Derby and a trip to the Etihad.
Arsenal at times appeared vulnerable to a performance drop-off just before and after European matches last season.
Arteta’s men lost 1-0 at Newcastle in November before hosting Sevilla in matchday four in the Champions League, and repeated that result away at Villa Park ahead of a matchday five draw against PSV.
Perhaps it was a question of depth in the ranks, but Arsenal will need to find a solution this term in order to stand a better chance of pipping Man City to the crown at the third time of asking.
Arne Slot will need to make his mark felt immediately with Liverpool in Europe after their disappointing Europa League campaign last season ended in a shock quarter final defeat by Atalanta.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal face an opening Champions League game sandwiched by difficult early Premier League fixtures against North London rivals Tottenham and away at Man City
How will new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot cope with the step up and congested fixture list?
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Jurgen Klopp repeatedly complained of fixture congestion and his former side will again face quick turnarounds against Bournemouth in September, Chelsea in October, and Brighton and Man City in November.
The question Reds fans will be asking, is how will new head coach Slot deal with the packed-out fixture list?
Manchester City were another to struggle in the Premier League before and after continental games last season. Pep Guardiola‘s side lost away at Wolves and then at Arsenal either side of their second group stage game against RB Leipzig.
City dropped further points against Chelsea and Liverpool in November, February and March as the congestion of European fixtures took its toll.
Guardiola’s team welcome Arsenal to the Etihad just days after the first Champions League matchday and host Man Utd in December on another short turnaround.
Back in Europe’s top club competition for the first time since 1982-83, Aston Villa‘s most difficult run of fixtures around a Champions League matchday comes at the start of November.
Unai Emery‘s side will need to navigate a European game trapped between away trips to Tottenham and Liverpool as the Spanish boss looks to finally put his stamp on the Champions League after so much success in the Europa League.
Pep Guardiola’s men will hope to improve on last year’s quarter-final defeat by Real Madrid
Unai Emery has a strong track-record in Europe having won the Europa League four times
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