PSG and Bayern in ‘different world’ to tired Premier League teams, says Arteta

Mikel Arteta has dismissed suggestions that Premier League sides are incapable of matching the levels hit by their European rivals, saying that freshness was key to Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain producing arguably the game of the season in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

With the Arsenal manager stressing player availability will make the difference during a defining moment in the club’s history, he argued that English football’s competitiveness cannot be ignored when it comes to accusations that the quality of football has dropped.

Arsenal have fought on four fronts during a draining campaign and Arteta, whose side have a number of injury problems before they hope to boost their title chances by beating Fulham on Saturday, pointed out that the domestic dominance of PSG and Bayern ensured they were in peak condition during their thriller in Paris on Tuesday.

“When I look at that game, Bayern v PSG, it’s probably the best game I ever witnessed in the quality of two teams and especially the individual quality the players delivered, I have never seen something like this,” Arteta said. “But when I look at the amount of minutes and the freshness of those players, then I’m not surprised.

“To deliver that much quality you have to be very fresh and the difference in the leagues and the way they compete is night and day. And you just have to see a lot of stats recently around it. We are comparing two different worlds. You cannot compare one part of that without any context around it, I don’t think it’s fair.”

Arsenal will go six points clear of City if they beat Fulham, although Pep Guardiola’s side would have two games in hand on the league leaders. The Fulham game is sandwiched by Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid, which is locked at 1-1 before Tuesday’s second leg, and there are concerns that Martin Ødegaard will exacerbate the absence of Kai Havertz and Jurriën Timber by also missing out with a knee problem.

Martin Ødegaard is a doubt for Saturday’s game against Fulham with a knee issue. Photograph: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

“Have every player available and fit at their best,” Arteta said of lessons from previous title races. “. With that, I’m a happy man. That’s the most important thing. When you talk about the other two teams the other night [PSG and Bayern] – how many players were available? All of them, at their very best. That’s the most important thing.”