Eriksson is concerned that the lack of a mid-season respite puts England at a disadvantage in major tournaments, with Premiership players more likely to have run out of steam by the start of June than their La Liga, Serie A or Bundesliga counterparts.

Wenger told The Independent on Sunday: “I think that is what we are going towards, and I think we’ll have a winter break next year.

“I feel that Sven is completely determined to get a winter break, which I can understand as it is linked to success for the national team at tournaments and the expectation level is higher now in England.

“They’ve won in rugby and people are saying, why can’t we do it in football?”

Wenger does not believe that a break should threaten the tradition of playing matches over the Christmas and New Year period.

“Even for those who are promoting it, it would be a mistake to have it over Christmas.”