Arsenal and Crystal Palace Successfully Reschedule Matches Amid Tight Fixture Schedule

The match between Arsenal and Everton was initially set for 2:00 PM BST on December 21. However, Arsenal requested a rescheduling to take place a day earlier at 8:00 PM. This adjustment allows the Gunners to have sufficient recovery time before facing Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on December 23.

Originally, the EFL had planned for the Carabao Cup fixture to occur on December 16. Yet, it was postponed to accommodate Palace, who are participating in the Conference League, thus preventing them from playing three matches within a five-day period.

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, voiced his concerns, stating, “Hopefully, they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn’t make any sense. Now we decide the date for the Carabao Cup match; I am sure they will change the Premier League match as well.” Arteta emphasized the need for logical scheduling to protect players’ well-being.

Similarly, Crystal Palace’s manager, Oliver Glasner, expressed frustration over the congested schedule, stating, “I was really upset when I heard it for the first time. We are trying to move our Leeds game forward to Saturday, December 20, to avoid having only two days between matches.”

Both clubs confirmed on Tuesday that the Premier League has approved their requests to reschedule for December 20. Arsenal’s official statement clarified that their match against Everton will now take place at 8 PM on Saturday, December 20, rather than on the following day. The rescheduling was deemed necessary to comply with FIFA recommendations, advocating for a minimum of 72 hours rest between fixtures.

Crystal Palace also announced the adjustment of their Premier League match against Leeds United, now set to kick off at 8:00 PM GMT on December 20. This was coordinated with the Premier League due to the scheduling of their Carabao Cup tie against Arsenal on December 23.

In light of the ongoing scheduling complexities, the EFL attributed some blame to UEFA. In an official statement, they acknowledged the challenges faced by both Arsenal and Crystal Palace and highlighted the lack of adequate consultation with domestic leagues regarding European competition expansions.

The EFL noted, “The expansion of European cup competitions and the number of exclusive match nights across Europe have led to unavoidable scheduling conflicts for the EFL Cup and other competitions. While we have shown a willingness to compromise, continuous concessions undermine the reputation of the EFL Cup and challenge the traditional scheduling of the English football calendar.”