• Aston Villa v Arsenal – how’s the season been going so far for Villa?
• As we approach the game against Aston Villa, what has changed in football?

By Tony Attwood

Well by “some” in the headline above I mean of course Tottenham, who never seem to give up on the notion that if one buys enough new players some of them might turn out to be players who can make the team contenders for a top four rather than a bottom three spot.   

But I guess that now happens so often with some clubs that instead we have to give a  mention to the fact that Gabriel Jesus looks like leaving Arsenal (which is hardly a surprise) and going to Barcelona, (which is more of a surprise) especially as they won the league by quite a margin last season.  The talk is that he will sign a two year contract.

Arsenal meanwhile have apparently put forward a motion suggesting that the squad for each Premier League match be increased from the current requirement of 20 players including three “homegrown” players for each league match.  The argument is that the current system is detrimental to player welfare for those regularly not selected to be part of the squad.    That regulation for a maximum of 20 players per game is an arbitrary Premier League rule, and includes the stipulation of three homegrown players. In Spain the maximum is 23 games while in Itlay it is 25.

The argument against the change in England is that clubs who are promoted each season generally exist with smaller squads.  Now this is normally explained because their management know they are very likely to go straight back down at the end of the campaign whatever they do, and this would put unnecessarily financial strain on these bottom clubs.   Arsenal argue that keeping the number lower reduces the match day experience their younger players can get early on – which is necessary in seasons like 2025/6 when Arsenal stayed in contention in four competitions through much of the season, including of course getting to two cup finals and the quarters of the FA Cup.

Interestingly Arteta has also cited the psychological impact of the rule on some players, and this is not the first time he has shown himself aware of the broader aspects of player well-being.   I’m rather pleased about this as this always helps in future transfers of young players where Arsenal get the reputation of a club that understands that young players have different needs and need to be looked after in different ways. 

Indeed, Arteta has said of late, “I’ve been begging the Premier League if we can extend those numbers just for the welfare of the players, which is the most important thing, because I think every squad needs more than 20 outfield players, ideally, to sustain the level of demand in international games that we have.”

Clubs can register a squad of 25 senior players – those aged over 21 – for the season, of which there must be at least eight homegrown.   Arteta has also made the point that all players really want to be involved in match day experiences, even though the younger players know they will not get on the pitch and feels that this is an important part of their training and development into being a footballer.  As he said, “if you ask the players, everybody would like to be part of the squad on match day, because that’s the way that they can fulfill themselves.”

Arteta also reported that he had been talking with clubs across Europe on this issue and most European countries allow a higher number of players in the match day squad and he is now campaigning constantly for the rule to change in England.

Meanwhile Arsenal prepare for today’s match we have the headline “Teenager’s £35m transfer to Nottingham Forest scrapped after supporters [of Nottingham Forest] express their fury at American owners,” which is an interesting development in supporter engagement.   And in relation to our game, we see “Declan Rice continues to star for Arsenal, who may add Julian Alvarez to their ranks, but hosts Villa are sore from sales.”  The comment comes from AlJazeera whom I don’t think we have ever quoted as a source before.

Elsewhere looking at what Aston Villa have been up to this summer, it would appear that they have let 18 players go which seems rather a lot to lose in one window, and they were also beaten 4-0 by Brighton in their opening match of the season last week which doesn’t seem too healthy either.  I do wonder if everything is ok with that club.

Sky Sports tell us that “Ezri Konsa could be primed for his Arsenal debut at, of all places, the club he has just departed, Aston Villa. Despite not playing any pre-season football in and around his £51m move to north London, Mikel Arteta says Konsa could be ready for a first Gunners outing at Villa Park.” 

More later….