David Raya, Arsenal’s goalkeeper, has urged the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) to address the escalating issue of fixture congestion after teammate Ben White was ruled out until 2025.
White recently underwent surgery for a knee injury, a setback that compounds Arsenal’s struggles with a series of injuries, jeopardizing their Premier League title ambitions.
Manager Mikel Arteta has already dealt with fitness concerns affecting key players, including captain Martin Odegaard, who missed two months, and defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu. The situation worsened after White and Bukayo Saka limped off during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
Speaking to El Desmarque, Raya highlighted the toll of the packed football calendar, exacerbated by new commitments like the revamped Club World Cup. “We know that the calendar is what it is; it is very congested for teams that play in all competitions, now also with a Club World Cup in the summer,” he said. “At least Arsenal are not playing it, but the risk of injury is greater. We players have talked a lot about the subject and the union has to get involved, in our case the PFA (Professional Football Association).
“We are with them, they will help us as much as possible, but we know that it is not from one day to the next. People have to understand that we are people, we are not robots, and an injury can change our lives.”
Injury crises are not limited to Arsenal this season. Manchester City’s Rodri, another advocate for addressing fixture overload, is sidelined with an ACL injury, while England’s squad saw eight withdrawals ahead of their match against Greece due to injuries and fitness management.
Arteta expressed frustration over Arsenal’s predicament, describing it as a challenging period. “What I’m praying for is that after the international break we have the team fully physically equipped, that they are available and that they are fit, because it’s been a nightmare for eight weeks,” Arteta said. “Doubt after doubt, issue after issue, not only with the ones that are not able to play, but with the ones who are able to play.”
As Arsenal looks to bounce back, the broader conversation about protecting players and mitigating the risk of injuries continues to gain traction.
