Arsene Wenger is preparing to change much of his outfield team against Bournemouth tonight amid what he calls the “most uneven” fixture schedule of his 21 Christmases managing in England.

Arsenal will be playing their second match in three days at Dean Court tonight, whereas Eddie Howe’s team have had an added 25 hours to recover following their 3-0 win in a 3pm kick-off at Swansea on Saturday. There have been even wider fluctuations in preparation for others, with Chelsea’s three-match festive scehedule spread out over 10 days and Southampton forced to play their three games in less than six days.

“The differences in rest period are unbelievable in terms of all the teams,” said Wenger. “In 20 years it is the most uneven Christmas period I’ve seen. I don’t really know if the Premier League masters the fixtures. We have sold the rights to TV for a lot of money so we have to accept TV chooses the games. But some teams have more luck than others. We go into a game with a big handicap on the fixture and I have to find fresh legs.”

The parameters of what broadcast companies can do are decided before the television rights are sold and so, in theory, the clubs could have collectively demanded certain parity in their festive schedule. A deal worth more than £5 billion over three years was agreed.