Were expected to believe clubs in the best league can't field a team?

OLIVER HOLT: They expect us to believe that in the richest, most excessive league in the world, clubs can’t field a team? Teams need to stop cowering behind bad rules and get on with it

• The north London derby was postponed after Arsenal were unable to field a team
• Are we expected to believe that Premier League clubs can’t field a full team?
• The Premier League is the richest, most extravagant league in the whole world
• It is time for the Premier League to wrest back control and adapt their bad rules 

The North London derby was called off on Saturday because Arsenal were unable to field a team. Unable to field a team? The Premier League is the richest, most extravagant, most excessive, best-resourced and most lavishly talented league in the world and we are supposed to believe one of its biggest clubs cannot field a team?

It makes them sound like a pub league outfit scratching around for ringers because one of the lads was late back from his milk round and a couple more were too hungover to get out of bed.

The ravages of Covid-19 are not to be dismissed lightly, but it is obvious that Premier League clubs who have precipitated the recent epidemic of postponements could still put a side out. 

Sunday’s north London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal was postponed due to ‘Covid’

Are we really expected to believe that Premier League clubs like Arsenal can’t field a full team? 

The spirit of the rule governing applying for postponements was designed around clubs stricken with Covid outbreaks that might decimate a squad. They were not designed to allow a club to cope with an injury or suspension or to buy time until players get back from the Africa Cup of Nations.

So, yes, Premier League clubs’ playing resources may be stretched. They may not be able to put out their first team but that should not be a reason to seek postponement. The truth, sadly, is that Covid-19 is not at the nub of what is afflicting these clubs. The truth is that they are sick with cynicism.

There is no point blaming Arsenal in particular as they are only doing what other clubs have done before them. And it is perhaps unfair even to say that the clubs are abusing the rule that the Premier League have put in place for asking for a match to be called off. But if they are not abusing it, they are taking advantage of it, and in the process undermining the credibility and image of the league.

The law, in this case, is an ass. With the resources that our top flight clubs possess, it is an insult to our intelligence to claim that any of them cannot muster 13 or more outfield players. The players are there, it is just that the parameters for picking Under 21s, say, are too restrictive. The Premier League need to adapt their rules so they more closely resemble the FA Cup guidelines.

Let’s be honest about it, too: the clubs do not help themselves. Arsenal are pleading poverty of resources, particularly in midfield, and yet it is little more than a week ago that they sent Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Roma on loan. Maitland-Niles plays in midfield.

It is also only a few days since Arsenal held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield in the Carabao Cup. The postponement rules were not designed to come to their rescue because Granit Xhaka was sent off again and so is suspended or because Bukayo Saka, who might just be their best player, picked up an injury. Those aren’t reasons for postponement. Those are reasons for sucking up a bit of adversity.

It is time for the Premier League to wrest back control and adapt their bad rules

If the Premier League wants to help clubs suffering Covid outbreaks — which is a noble instinct — it should relax the eligibility rules, so its teams can draw on the full extent of their resources. They need to make these changes fast.

The rash of last-minute postponements, which seem to be growing rather than abating, is alienating disillusioned fans who no longer have any faith that matches they have bought train tickets, plane tickets and match tickets for will actually take place.

It is time for the Premier League to wrest back control. It is time for the clubs to be told that it is time to stop cowering behind bad rules and get on with it.

WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON IN THE LEAGUE’S FIXTURE CHAOS 

James Sharpe unpicks the problems with postponing games.

Q How many games have been postponed so far?

A The number of postponed games is up to 21 after the North London derby became the latest top-flight fixture to be called off.

The Gunners submitted a request to the Premier League on Friday evening due to the large number of unavailable players among their squad.

This decision comes just a day after Leicester City’s game against Burnley was also postponed following a Covid outbreak at the Clarets. Leicester have had their last three fixtures called off.

Q How does the PL decide to postpone a game?

A It’s just for Covid, right? Wrong. This is what’s causing such a kerfuffle. Premier League will call off games, according to their guidance, ‘where a club has been unable to field 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper for a match due to Covid infections, injuries, illness’.

Arsenal only have one confirmed positive case — Martin Odegaard — the majority of the rest are just injured.

Managers like Brendan Rodgers claim the rise in injuries is a knock-on effect of Covid outbreaks, meaning less squad rotation and recovery. Many others just think the rules are open to abuse.

Q Surely the AFCON doesn’t count as well?

A Yup, that too. The Premier League’s statement confirming the postponement read: ‘The decision is a result of a combination of Covid, existing and recent injuries and players on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations’.

The same went for Leicester’s successful appeal to have their Everton match postponed.

Arsenal have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Thomas Partey, Nicolas Pepe and Mohamed Elneny at the AFCON.

Incredibly, players that have departed to participate in a regular, esteemed, pre-arranged international competition that everyone knew was happening are also being taken into account.

Q Can’t they just play the kids?

A Don’t be ridiculous. All those big clubs who have spent years stockpiling youngsters, you don’t now expect them to play, do you? Premier League guidelines state that only ‘appropriately experienced Under-21 players’ count.

Arsenal’s Under-23s played on Friday night. One of them, Marcelo Flores, is a Mexico international. So, what is appropriate experience? The Premier League say it’s any Under-21 who has ‘played for the club, another Premier League or EFL club, or an overseas club in the current season’.

But what about Leicester? They beat Watford in the FA Cup with a bunch of kids and still had their game against Everton called off three days later. That’s because, despite all that, the Premier League told clubs the FA Cup third round didn’t count for sufficient experience.

Q What’s it done to the integrity of the competition?

A Not a lot. Clubs are suspicious others have pushed for games to be called off simply because they can’t field their strongest side. ‘It’s got to stop,’ said Gary Neville as he demanded that clubs be forced to play on. ‘There’s no doubt they’ve been calling games off based upon whether they think they’ve got the best squad or team to win a game.’

The Premier League insist that their medical advisers review supporting evidence to verify the status of each unavailable player.

Q When will they be rearranged?

A In any nook or cranny left in the football calendar and there’s not many left.

Take Burnley. Their game against Watford on Tuesday night is now also under threat after their fresh Covid outbreak. If that gets postponed, they will have five games left to rearrange.

There’s an international break coming up for all countries other than Europe. A bit of a winter break ahead of the fourth round of the FA Cup. Some may have to be squeezed in there. In extreme circumstances, the season could be extended.

P.S. It was much less easy to get games called off in the past. Former Spurs boss Martin Jol was forced to play his side’s final game of the season against West Ham in 2006 — the infamous Lasagne Gate — despite the near entirety of his squad coming down with food poisoning and their defeat costing them a place in the Champions League.

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