Arsenal hold travel edge over Man City as air mile figures revealed

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Arsenal's players have clocked up fewer international break air miles than seven other Premier League clubs, with Manchester City covering the most by a considerable distance.

Research from Select Car Leasing has calculated that City's squad will collectively travel 134,329.5 miles across the three-week interval — the equivalent of circling the globe five times, and more than any other side in the division.

Brentford sit second on 109,984.9 miles, with Crystal Palace third on 97,554.2. Sunderland (92,248.08), Hull City (87,304.9), Liverpool (84,519.2) and Manchester United (81,169.3) all also exceed Arsenal's combined total of 80,627.9 miles.

Arsenal's squad stays closer to home

The per-player numbers tell a similar story. Only Liverpool (4,695.5), Leeds United (4,059.6), Newcastle (3,947.5) and Everton (2,726.8) average fewer miles per squad member than Arsenal.

City, by contrast, are averaging 7,462.8 miles per player, with only Ipswich Town (8,019.1) and Crystal Palace (8,129.5) higher — figures driven largely by squads containing Asian and South American internationals.

Part of the explanation for Arsenal's lower total is the number of first-team players who did not travel at all this window. Kai Havertz was sent home by Germany after picking up a hamstring issue, while Ben White and Noni Madueke were not called up by England. Cristhian Mosquera also missed out on the Spain squad following a recent muscle problem.

A heavy schedule ahead

The timing is notable given what awaits Mikel Arteta's side. The Premier League champions face nine fixtures across all competitions before the next international break, a run that includes trips to Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

City, meanwhile, do not return to action until 11 October, when Enzo Maresca takes his side to Anfield. That fixture arrives with the club under significant scrutiny after the Premier League confirmed City were guilty of all charges relating to financial rule breaches.

The ruling found that the club produced "sham" sponsorship contracts to disguise upwards of £830million in funding. City continue to protest their innocence.

Recovery windows and travel load have become an increasingly discussed factor in title races, with squads returning from long-haul trips often given reduced preparation time before club football resumes. Arsenal's relatively contained mileage means the bulk of Arteta's group should be back on the training pitch in London earlier than several of their rivals.

With Arsenal and City widely expected to contest the title again this season, the opening weeks after the break will offer the first real indication of how both squads handle the schedule ahead.