Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is advocating for the elimination of FA Cup replays to prevent fixture congestion, especially as his team prepares for a third-round clash against Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The third round marks the entry of England's top clubs into the prestigious knockout competition, and Arsenal, currently trailing five points behind Jurgen Klopp's table-toppers, faces a critical fixture on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium. Following the Cup tie, the Gunners are scheduled for a 13-day break. However, a draw would necessitate another match at Anfield during an unusual two-week rest period for Arsenal amidst their domestic and European commitments.
Considering the potential involvement of Arsenal in a revamped Champions League next season, Arteta expressed his opinion on scrapping replays, stating, "I think so. We will see what happens because, with the new format of the Champions League, there will be more games to play, so I don't know how we are going to fit them in."
During a pre-match press conference, the Spanish manager emphasised the need to weigh the pros and cons, saying, "The (mini) break will be minimal, and we have plans for both scenarios. We want to win the game and will try to win the game, but cancelling replays has to be considered."
