Wenger: Season starting too early

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels it makes no sense for the Barclays Premier League season to kick off this weekend, with players still fatigued from the World Cup.

Triumphant Germany trio Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski have all only just returned to the Gunners’ Hertfordshire training base and will not feature in Saturday’s season opener against Crystal Palace or, in all likelihood, Tuesday’s Champions League play-off first leg at Beskitas.