WATCH: Arteta backs Guardiola over criticism of fixture scheule | OneFootball

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta backed his former colleague Pep Guardiola over criticism of the scheduling of fixtures.

Guardiola hit out at the decision to have Manchester City play on Saturday and not Sunday after their FA Cup semi-final win over Chelsea, having played extra-time and penalties in their midweek Champions League exit against Real Madrid.

Arsenal also played on Wednesday when they were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich and Arteta has called for changes to be made.

“It’s not about us, Pep or myself, it’s about the wellbeing of the players,” Arteta said.

“When you compete in European competition every team has to compete in the same way. You cannot have a team that hasn’t played for seven days, or three days before, and has more recovery time and then you have to play in the Premier League and the FA Cup.

“It is not right. If you look in any angle it’s not right. If you want to protect, let’s talk about the players and the protagonists.

“Let’s protect the players and do everything we can to give them the maximum time to help them recover and perform and do the show that they do every week.”