The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar may have an impact on the club’s chances to win the Premier League this season, according to Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit, who expressed concern for the club.
After 14 games, Arsenal leads the Premier League standings by five points over second-place Manchester City.
The Premier League season is presently on pause due to the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.
The English top-flight league will get back running on December 26 as Arsenal will welcome West Ham to the Emirates Stadium.
With about nine Arsenal players, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, Ben White, Matt Turner, William Saliba, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, all out in Qatar representing their various national teams, Petit fears the World Cup could affect Arsenal’s Premier League title chances.
When asked if he felt Arsenal were not yet a Premier League title challenger, Petit told Compare Bet: “[One] reason is the break of the World Cup.
“I have a fear this could break the positive dynamic of Arsenal that they have had since the beginning of the season.
“When you play the World Cup, your players return with a different mindset.
“Either you have done something good during the World Cup, then you are full of confidence, however, it can also mean that they want to rest – I have just won the World Cup, so now I am going to rest.
“This is why I am scared – the break is five to six weeks, it is like in the summer at the end of the season, which means your mind is completely different.
“So you have to link up very quickly when you come back to your club, and you have to come back two months before to get back to how you were before the break.”