Top Premier League teams are exhausted like "mules"; Arsenal and Manchester City have already played 40 matches this season, requiring ample rotation for competing on four fronts.

The Premier League’s broadcast income is the highest among the five major leagues, allowing clubs to afford strong signings and squad reinforcements, which over time has established the Premier League as the leading league of the big five. Consequently, every season, the top Premier League contenders are drained like “mules.”

According to statistics, after 26 rounds in the Premier League, Arsenal and Manchester City have each reached their 40th match of the season. Both clubs, occupying the top two spots in the league, are competing on four fronts: the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup. Both teams have advanced to the Champions League round of 16, the FA Cup fourth round, and are contesting the League Cup title. Currently, the number of matches played by Manchester City and Arsenal equals the total possible matches Manchester United could play this season. However, Manchester United was eliminated early in both the League Cup and FA Cup and has no European competition this season, resulting in a much lighter schedule.

Note: The Premier League consists of 20 teams, with 38 league matches per season. Since Manchester United was knocked out in the first round of both the League Cup and FA Cup, they have only played 40 matches so far. Therefore, their relatively strong league performance this season is understandable, while Manchester City and Arsenal face extreme fatigue competing on four fronts. As a result, Manchester City and Arsenal must manage their squad rotation carefully; otherwise, they risk striving for everything but ending up with nothing. Last season, Inter Milan, who also competed on three fronts, ended up empty-handed, serving as a prime example.