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Playing Arsenal is the same as playing a newly promoted side – Barcelona star Anthony Gordon
25th September, 2026 09:34 AM
Barcelona star Anthony Gordon has admitted that the English Premier League is played at a much more intense level, offering greater strength and competition than other leagues.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, September 24, 2026, Gordon concurred that there is a strong possibility English players emerge from a season more tired than their counterparts in other leagues due to the heavy workload and fixture congestion.
England’s unrelenting intensity
Highlighting the relentless intensity across the country, where teams consistently play at a high level, Gordon emphasised there are hardly any easy fixtures in the domestic English league.
“In England, there is no easy game. I am not saying there are easy games in other leagues, but in England, any game is as hard as the next. Playing Arsenal is as hard as playing a newly promoted team,” he explained.
The former Newcastle and England winger backed his assertions with the impressive run of Sergej Jakirovic’s Hull City.
The newly promoted only earned their place in the top flight via the final promotion playoff in Wembley following Southampton’s disqualification after the spygate scandal.
The Tigers proceeded to make an impressive start to their campaign, edging out Manchester United and drawing giants Chelsea FC 2-2 to remain unbeaten in the domestic league. Their flawless start was only broken in matchday five when they fell to Newcastle United.
“That is the difficulty of the EPL. Every game is so intense. Anyone can win a game. Every single match is intense. For English players in the EPL, it is a lot tougher on the body than for players elsewhere,” he added.
Gordon’s comments are slightly in contrast to his earlier remarks about two leagues after switching from Newcastle to the back-to-back La Liga champions.
La Liga vs EPL
“The technical and tactical quality is incredible. Even against teams lower down the table, you have to be completely focused because they can punish you for the smallest mistake.
“The Premier League has incredible pace and physicality, but in LaLiga, you feel like every player understands the game at another level. The way teams move the ball, create spaces and control matches is different.
“As a winger, I have noticed it immediately. Defenders are extremely intelligent, and you can’t just depend on speed or strength.
“The Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world, but if you ask me about the highest level of football I’ve experienced, I would say LaLiga. The quality here is unbelievable,” he explained.
