Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged the Premier League to reconsider its matchday squad limit, arguing that the current regulations are placing unnecessary pressure on players.

Premier League teams are currently permitted to select 20 players for a match, with at least three of those players required to be homegrown. That figure is lower than the limits used in several other major European leagues. Clubs in Spain’s La Liga can name 23 players, while Serie A sides in Italy are allowed to include 25.

For Arteta, the difference has become increasingly difficult to justify as the demands placed on elite footballers continue to grow.

Arsenal Facing Demands on Multiple Fronts

The issue has particular relevance for Arsenal, who have been competing across several competitions in recent seasons.

Last season, the club not only won the Premier League title but also advanced to the Champions League final and the Carabao Cup final. Their FA Cup campaign ended in the quarter-finals, adding further matches to an already packed schedule.

With the football calendar continuing to expand and players being asked to handle an increasing number of fixtures, Arteta believes English clubs should not be restricted to smaller matchday groups than their counterparts elsewhere in Europe.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Aston Villa on Monday evening, the manager revealed that he has repeatedly asked the Premier League to consider increasing the number of players available on matchday.

Arteta Puts Player Welfare First

Arteta believes the main argument for change should be the wellbeing of the players.

He has pushed for an increase because, in his view, a squad needs more than 20 outfield players to cope properly with the demands created by modern domestic and international football.

The Arsenal boss acknowledged that clubs must continue working within the existing regulations for now. That means managing the disappointment of players who are left out and ensuring they still feel valued within the group.

Arteta said the coaching staff have to maintain close communication with their players and make sure those difficult decisions are explained properly. Even when a player does not make the matchday squad, he stressed that the individual should still understand his importance to the team.

Five Senior Players Can Miss Out

Premier League clubs are allowed to register 25 senior players for the season, with senior status applying to footballers over the age of 21. At least eight of those registered players must be homegrown.

Because only 20 players can be selected for a match, that effectively means five senior members of the registered squad are left out each time.

Arteta has previously acknowledged how challenging those conversations can be. Telling a player that he will not even be involved on matchday can have an impact on their wellbeing, particularly when they are eager to contribute.

For the Arsenal manager, the problem is not simply about playing minutes. Being selected as part of the matchday group also gives players a sense of involvement and belonging.

Players Want to Be Part of the Squad

Arteta believes the strongest indication of what should change would come directly from the players themselves.

He suggested that if footballers were asked whether they would rather remain at home than travel with the team, the overwhelming preference would be to be involved. Matchday participation, in his view, is an important part of why players enjoy and fulfil themselves through football.

Leaving someone completely outside the squad can therefore be particularly difficult.

According to Arteta, such a decision offers little benefit. It does not help the club, can affect how a player is valued, and may leave the individual feeling disconnected from the team. He sees the situation as a significant problem despite what he considers to be a straightforward solution.

European Rivals Already Have Bigger Squads

Arteta also pointed to his own research into the squad structures used by leading European clubs.

He said Arsenal are not an unusual case and that the majority of top teams across Europe operate with larger groups of players. In his assessment, around 90% of those clubs have more players available than English teams.

That comparison has strengthened his belief that the Premier League should consider expanding its matchday squad allowance.

For now, however, Arteta accepts that Arsenal must operate within the regulations already in place. With the demands of elite football showing no sign of easing, he believes the conversation over squad sizes will remain an important one.