Arteta against international fixtures during pandemic

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said he is not surprised by the great strides Sunday's Premier League opponents and top-four contenders West Ham United have made under veteran boss David Moyes.

The Basque coach was also asked about the upcoming international break and the fact some nations will play three games in six days, the Arsenal manager claimed: “I think it’s a bit too much in a normal year, so this year I think it becomes something really dangerous with the amount of minutes these boys have played in such a short time with no preparation.

“I don’t think it’s right but we’re not going to change it. The decisions have been made and the games are going to be played, so it’s just about how we protect our players in the best possible way."