Arsenal's Grueling Fixture Schedule: With the League Cup Semi-Finals Reached, Should They Fully Commit to Winning? Arteta Faces a Tough Decision

The first leg of the League Cup semi-finals has started, as Manchester City defeated Newcastle 2-0 on the road, nearly securing their place in the final; the other semi-final matchup is a London derby, with Chelsea hosting Arsenal at 4 AM Beijing time on January 15th. This situation presents Arteta with a dilemma: Arsenal is currently facing a tough schedule with multiple high-stakes matches. Should they focus all efforts on chasing the Premier League title, or should they also fully commit to the League Cup without rotating players?

Since Arteta led Arsenal to lift the FA Cup in 2020, the team has failed to win any of their eight semi-final appearances across three competitions, recording two draws and six losses, and scoring only two goals.

Not only does Arteta struggle with cup semi-finals, but Arsenal’s recent schedule is extremely congested with several tough matches. After playing the League Cup semi-final away at Chelsea, they face Nottingham Forest away in the Premier League this weekend, then travel to Inter Milan for the Champions League next midweek, followed by a home Premier League match against Manchester United the following weekend. If Arteta chooses to attack the League Cup semi-final without rotating the squad, Arsenal’s existing weaknesses—lack of attacking firepower and stamina during a packed schedule—will be even more exposed. This is similar to Inter Milan’s situation last season, when they aimed to compete on multiple fronts but ended up empty-handed. Arteta, who traditionally dislikes rotating, now faces a critical choice.

After 21 rounds of the Premier League, Arsenal leads by 6 points, gaining an early advantage in the title race. In my opinion, Arteta should prioritize securing the Premier League championship this season. The League Cup could be used to rotate the squad heavily, allowing key players to rest and giving substitutes more playing time. What is your take on this?