Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal will start the new season at a disadvantage due to a clash between the Premier League and European schedules and has accused the authorities of "unfair" treatment. Arsenal begin at home to Fulham at midday tomorrow but then must break from domestic engagements for the first leg of their Champions League third-round qualifying fixture on Wednesday, away to Sparta Prague. Although Liverpool are also involved in Champions League qualification against Toulouse, Arsenal's other rivals Manchester United, the champions, and Chelsea have midweek Premier League games. Arsenal's domestic campaign then resumes next weekend at Blackburn on the Sunday.Wenger is concerned that the schedule clash removes the margin of error for his young side against Fulham and Blackburn. Were they not to win both matches, they could find themselves at least five points adrift of United or Chelsea after only one week of the season which, in Wenger's view, could place his charges under unnecessary pressure.
"There is a problem in the first week," he said. "The two teams that have a Champions League qualifier have a disadvantage. The others play another Premier League game so you are already chasing to get the points back. You can be in the middle of the table if you don't win the first or second [games] and that's, psychologically, a big disadvantage. It's unfair to do that because it doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. The solution is not to have Premier League games in midweek. Why could we not start this season one week earlier? Why could we not have played the Champions League qualifier this [past] week."
Wenger also hinted that the uncertainty arising from his as-yet unsigned contract could soon be over. Wenger's existing deal expires next summer. "We are talking and usually when we talk, there is always a positive outcome," he said. "At the moment, nothing is done but hopefully soon.
"It looks to me that there are more doubts from outside the club than ever before but we have a strong belief, a great desire for success, a great togetherness and we are very hungry. And the fact that everyone doubts about us reinforces that."
Wenger has been relatively quiet in the summer transfer market but he remains open to possibilities before the end of the month. "I don't feel we need any more [signings] but we are always listening," he said. "If something comes up, we have the funds to do it."
