There are always going to be teams left unhappy with the lottery that is the Premier League fixture schedule, particularly when it comes to travelling back from European fixtures and having only a couple of days to prepare for a big weekend clash.
Everyone knows their fixtures for the 2015-16 season now, and the Champions League teams are aware of which games will fall after European ties.
Arsenal arguably face the toughest set of matches in Champions League game weeks, playing at Chelsea as well as hosting Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur after their first four midweek fixtures.
Arsenal's domestic form suffered after Champions League games
Norwich and Aston Villa away from home make up their games after group-stage fixtures, while the reverse fixture against United could fall just after a second-round, first-leg tie, and an away north London derby would be just days before a quarter-final first leg, if indeed Arsenal make it that far.
Arsenal's Premier League fixtures 2015/16
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 8 2015 | West Ham United | Home |
| Aug 15 2015 | Crystal Palace | Away |
| Aug 22 2015 | Liverpool | Home |
| Aug 29 2015 | Newcastle United | Away |
| Sept 12 2015 | Stoke City | Home |
| Sept 19 2015 | Chelsea | Away |
| Sept 26 2015 | Leicester City | Away |
| Oct 3 2015 | Manchester United | Home |
| Oct 17 2015 | Watford | Away |
| Oct 24 2015 | Everton | Home |
| Oct 31 2015 | Swansea City | Away |
| Nov 7 2015 | Tottenham Hotspur | Home |
| Nov 21 2015 | West Bromwich Albion | Away |
| Nov 28 2015 | Norwich City | Away |
| Dec 5 2015 | Sunderland | Home |
| Dec 12 2015 | Aston Villa | Away |
| Dec 19 2015 | Manchester City | Home |
| Dec 26 2015 | Southampton | Away |
| Dec 28 2015 | Bournemouth | Home |
| Jan 2 2016 | Newcastle United | Home |
| Jan 12 2016 | Liverpool | Away |
| Jan 16 2016 | Stoke City | Away |
| Jan 23 2016 | Chelsea | Home |
| Feb 2 2016 | Southampton | Home |
| Feb 6 2016 | Bournemouth | Away |
| Feb 13 2016 | Leicester City | Home |
| Feb 27 2016 | Manchester United | Away |
| March 1 2016 | Swansea City | Home |
| March 5 2016 | Tottenham Hotspur | Away |
| March 12 2016 | West Bromwich Albion | Home |
| March 19 2016 | Everton | Away |
| April 2 2016 | Watford | Home |
| April 9 2016 | West Ham United | Away |
| April 16 2016 | Crystal Palace | Home |
| April 23 2016 | Sunderland | Away |
| April 30 2016 | Norwich City | Home |
| May 7 2016 | Manchester City | Away |
| May 15 2016 | Aston Villa | Home |
Arsene Wenger’s men suffered after Champions League ties last season, failing to win four of their eight games directly after their play-off and group-stage matches, and they never recovered in their hunt for a first Premier League title since 2004.
United return to elite European competition this season, and it will be interesting to see how they fare with the demands of fighting on another front.
They have not been handed the kindest of fixture lists, with their first Champions League tie sandwiched between Liverpool at home and Southampton away, then another in between Everton away and a home Manchester derby. They also have a European tie just days after an away day at the Emirates.
Manuel Pellegrini will be looking for improvements at Man City next season
Manchester City arguably have the easiest time of things in terms of who they play after European games, with a trip to Old Trafford and a home game against Southampton the main matches that stand out.
Otherwise, home clashes with West Ham, Newcastle and Swansea, as well as a trip to Aston Villa, all seem winnable on paper. However, those teams may take hope from the fact that City failed to win half of their eight games directly after Champions League ties last season, including a defeat to West Ham and a draw at relegated QPR.
The 2015-16 Premier League season starts in
Chelsea will not be too perturbed by their calendar, with a home tie against Arsenal and a trip to White Hart Lane standing out amongst their games after European fixtures. Stoke away and Southampton at home are potentially tricky clashes, too, though.
Indeed, Chelsea’s Premier League form suffered after Champions League games last season; although they did not lose after playing in Europe, they won only three of their eight matches directly after midweek European action. That was not the kind of form that won them the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho will be looking to retain the Premier League next season
The Europa League is often criticised as an unnecessary distraction and hindrance on domestic form, but it turns out the Champions League has almost as significant an effect.
Last season’s four Champions League teams won only 15 of their 32 domestic games directly after European action (47 per cent win rate), losing on seven occasions (22 per cent loss rate).
Compare these to their record in league games that do not follow Champions League games and the difference is stark: 64 per cent win rate and 15 per cent loss rate.
The Premier League’s so-called ‘lesser’ teams should certainly gain confidence when handed the chance to play a Champions League side at the end of a European week.
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