Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta described the Christmas schedule as "absolutely crazy" after losing Bukayo Saka to injury against Crystal Palace. The Spaniard saw his side win 5-1 at Selhurst Park, but the win was soured by his key forward limping off after 25 minutes.
Saka, 23, appeared to get treatment on his knee before heading down the tunnel.
And afterwards, Arteta refused to speculate on the severity of the knock before taking aim at league organisers.
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"I don't know how serious (it is)," said Arteta. "He had to come off because he felt something, it's not good news obviously. So we wait and see now."
And despite the ruthless nature of his team's performance, Arteta demanded his players keep their levels up for the remainder of the season. Asked about their title chances, he replied: "We want it, but we have to show it for 10 months.
"The demands are incredible to play every three days for 12 or 13 weeks is crazy. We are trying our best. We have lost some players, it is happening to every team. We want to try."
After back-to-back draws in the Premier League, Arteta's has enjoyed a positive week in terms of results. The Gunners beat the same side 3-2 in the League Cup on Wednesday, and the 42-year-old was pleased with how the visitors asserted themselves.
"It's always really tough to come here against this team, so to play them twice in three days makes it trickier," he said. "But we started the game really well, good control, good dominance and we were very clinical. I am very happy to score five away from home in the Premier League.
"I don’t know how many times we have done that in the calendar year but quite a lot. It is remarkable. In front of goal and the way we approach the games away from home it tells everything about the team, the hunger, the desire, the way we want to play and these records hopefully will come to give us the big things that we want to achieve."
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As well as Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz, and two-goal hero Gabriel Jesus all came off before full time. The north-London side now lie three points off leaders Liverpool, but have played two games more.
Next, Arteta's side host Ipswich on December 27. That game will be followed by a clash with Brentford on New Year's Day, before another away trip to Brighton three days later.
