Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho Criticise Premier League Christmas Fixtures

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho have both criticised the organisation of the Premier League’s fixtures over the Christmas and New Year period.

In particular, the usually bitter enemies have focused their ire on the difference in rest periods afforded to certain teams.

It appears both are perturbed by leaders Chelsea having extra time to rest before their crunch game against fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

The match will come four days after Chelsea last played and just over 72 hours after Spurs were in action.

Wenger’s Gunners could find the result doubly relevant. They are just about still in the title race, despite trailing the Blues by nine points. Yet Arsenal also have to be wary about Spurs, who are just one point behind them and threatening to take the Gunners’ longstanding position in the top four away.

Wenger knows the threat and is incredulous at the timing of some of the fixtures bridging the old year with the new, according to BBC Sport.

“In 20 years, it is the most uneven Christmas period I have seen on the fixture front,” he said. “The difference of rest periods is absolutely unbelievable; compared to the other teams, it is unbelievable.”

The Arsenal chief also took aim at the deals for television rights involving England’s top flight, questioning whether the Premier League is even making the decisions: “I don’t know any more whether the Premier League is the master of the fixtures. We have to accept that television chooses the games—but I must say on that front that some teams have a bit more luck than others.”

Wenger knows his team is under pressure ahead of Tuesday’s trip to the Vitality Stadium to face an in-form Bournemouth. It comes a mere two days after Arsenal saw off Crystal …

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