Arsenal have urged the Premier League to permit larger matchday squads, with Mikel Arteta arguing that the existing limit can harm players’ welfare. Clubs in the top division are currently allowed to select 20 players for each fixture, including at least three homegrown players. By comparison, teams in Spain’s La Liga may choose 23 players, while Serie A clubs in Italy can include 25.
Arsenal have challenged for several trophies in recent campaigns. Last season, alongside claiming the Premier League title, they advanced to the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals and reached the FA Cup quarter-finals. With an increasingly congested schedule requiring footballers to play more often, Arteta believes English clubs should not have smaller matchday groups than their European counterparts.
Arteta said he has repeatedly asked league officials to raise the limit in order to protect players. He believes teams need access to more than 20 outfield players to cope with the demands created by domestic and international fixtures. Speaking before the champions’ Monday night visit to Aston Villa, he acknowledged that clubs must continue operating under the current regulations. He also stressed the importance of communicating closely with players so that everyone understands their situation and feels valued.
Teams may register up to 25 senior players, defined as those older than 21, for the season, with a minimum of eight meeting homegrown criteria. This means five registered senior players must be excluded from every matchday squad. Arteta said informing footballers that they have not been selected can be challenging and may have a damaging effect on their wellbeing.
Arteta suggested that players themselves should be asked whether they want to travel and participate on matchdays. In his view, most footballers would choose to join the squad because competing and being involved in games are central to their professional fulfilment.
He added that telling someone they are not part of the matchday group is extremely difficult and benefits neither the individual nor the club. Exclusion can reduce a player’s sense of belonging and potentially affect their market value. Arteta described it as a significant problem with a straightforward remedy.
Arteta also said his research into leading European clubs showed that Arsenal’s circumstances are not unusual. He claimed that about 90% of those teams have larger playing groups, meaning Arsenal must find a way to manage the same challenge while the present rules remain in place.
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