What Arsenal's withdrawals says about the state of football

What 10 Arsenal players withdrawing from international duty says about the state of modern football 

Amid the fuss over Mikel Arteta withdrawing players from international duty, there's a bigger story about why so many top clubs are chasing multiple trophies — and what it says about modern football. Also in today's members‑only newsletter:

In some of Mikel Arteta's discussions with players' camps — covering fitness issues and the various complications of this campaign — there has often been a rallying cry at the end: "We have a title to win."

Of course, it's not just about that. Arsenal aren't the only team in such a position. Arteta can still aim for the classic treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. Manchester City, meanwhile, can still secure a domestic treble — its second.

While this certainly raises the stakes for this weekend's FA Cup games and the remainder of the season, and while the achievement of both teams is undeniably impressive, there is a more fundamental issue worth discussing.

It concerns the value placed on managers' approaches, the broader debates around the modern Champions League, and the recent conversations about Arsenal's injury problems.

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The treble trap — why chasing everything is breaking modern football, and how it could actually be fixed. Read the full story in today's Inside Football. Join for full access.

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