Arsenal have formally objected to a proposed rescheduling of their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace, with the club maintaining the original December 16th date should stand despite their opponents’ fixture congestion concerns.
The dispute centers on Palace’s request to move the match to December 23rd, which would create a scenario where both teams would play two matches within approximately 48 hours. Palace face a demanding schedule that includes a Premier League encounter with Manchester City on December 14th and a European fixture against KuPS on December 18th.
While Palace initially considered a Christmas Eve fixture to allow additional recovery time, that option was dismissed due to operational challenges, including limited public transport availability on what would be a working Wednesday.
The EFL has shown some sympathy toward Palace’s situation, noting that both clubs play their preceding league matches simultaneously on December 21st. However, Arsenal remain firm in their position that the original date should be maintained.
Arsenal’s manager emphasized that player welfare and fan considerations must guide scheduling decisions. “We must find solutions that work for everyone,” he stated, adding that his club had proposed alternative arrangements he considered superior to the December 23rd option.
The Palace manager expressed strong concerns about player safety, describing a potential three-matches-in-five-days scenario as “irresponsible” and voicing frustration that broader scheduling issues persist within football’s governing structures.
The Arsenal manager also addressed broader concerns about fixture congestion, suggesting that without proper resolution, clubs might eventually reconsider their participation in certain competitions. “If we prioritize player welfare and supporters in our decisions, we can avoid reaching that point,” he noted.
In team news, Arsenal continue to manage several injury concerns ahead of their upcoming Premier League fixture, though optimism remains about the eventual return of key players following the international break.
