Mikel Arteta’s side are without several first-team regulars owing to injuries and the AFCON, but only Martin Odegaard was COVID-19 positive at the time.
Regardless, the Gunners were able to get their game against Tottenham postponed as they did not have a minimum of 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper.
Three players were unavailable due to Arsenal’s own doing as Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Folarin Balogun were loaned out while Granit Xhaka was suspended.
Hutton explained to Football Insider that Arsenal made good use of a loophole to get their game moved to another date:
He added that games should be postponed only if there is an issue related to COVID:
Arsenal’s squad depth has been tested in January
The Gunners claimed that even without the players they loaned out, they would not have been able to name 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper.
While Hutton is not wrong, Arsenal’s circumstance needs to be considered. The Gunners have lost four players to international duty, and several others are injured.
Like everyone else, the North London outfit are looking out for themselves and there is perhaps nothing wrong in doing so.
It remains to be seen if the Gunners will have enough players for their second-leg clash in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool, which will be played on Thursday.
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