Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged the Premier League to increase the size of matchday squads, arguing that the current 20-player limit harms player welfare. Clubs in England can currently name only 20 players per game, whereas La Liga permits 23 and Serie A allows 25, leaving English sides comparatively squeezed as fixture congestion increases across multiple competitions.

Under existing rules, clubs register 25 senior players for the season, meaning five miss out on any given matchday, a situation Arteta says is difficult to communicate and can negatively affect players who feel excluded. He said he has researched the issue across Europe's top clubs and found 90% carry larger squads than Arsenal, who competed on four fronts last season, winning the league and reaching cup finals and a Champions League final. Arteta made the comments ahead of Arsenal's trip to Aston Villa on Monday night.