While much focus centers on the tactical approaches of the two managers, attention should also be given to the freshness of the squads. Arsenal appeared markedly fatigued, whereas PSG’s players seemed comparatively fresher. This could be a recurring theme in the current season.
PSG recently announced a “period of rest” for Ousmane Dembélé and Nuno Mendes. Although Arsenal are often praised for having one of the strongest squads in the Premier League, they still face the challenge of resting and rotating players, particularly given injuries and the high weekly quality of English football. For PSG, the luxury of resting key players when needed is part of their usual approach, given their resources and position as a leading Ligue 1 club.
In August, Dembélé was ruled out of the match against Lille due to a planned rest period. Less than two months later, both Dembélé and Mendes were given another break and were set to miss the game against Le Mans. Each club in Europe operates with its own set of priorities, and PSG’s ability to rest players domestically is a notable advantage.
This raises questions about fairness when PSG receives praise for back-to-back Champions League titles. The previous season did not allow Arsenal to rest their key players in the Premier League in order to stay fresh for European competition; players like Declan Rice and William Saliba were fatigued and carrying knocks. Arsenal now find themselves in a stronger position to manage rests for important players, but it remains unlikely that someone like Rice will be rested ahead of a Premier League match due to the league’s demanding nature.
As the season progresses, Arteta and the Arsenal squad have reasons to feel aggrieved by PSG’s rest strategy. While it isn’t a level playing field, there may be limited recourse for English clubs to alter the fundamental dynamics that shape these decisions.
