Arteta bemoans early kick-off

Mikel Arteta has hit out at the decision to move Arsenal’s crunch game against Manchester City forward to tomorrow lunchtime, claiming it gives their rivals an unfair advantage.

Arsene Wenger’s men did not arrive back from Naples until around 4am yesterday morning after a demoralising 2-0 defeat that ensured they finished second in their Champions League Group.

City, who are six points behind Arsene Wenger’s men, played Bayern Munich the previous night — a game in which they rested a number of key players — and Arteta is angry that BT Sport have been allowed to change the game to a 12.45pm kick-off.