Arsenal oppose Crystal Palace’s request to reschedule League Cup tie

LONDON – Arsenal have opposed Crystal Palace’s request to reschedule their League Cup quarter-final to Dec 23, with manager Mikel Arteta saying it would be unfair for both teams to play twice in barely 48 hours.

The match is now set for Dec 16, part of a gruelling run of four games in eight days, with Palace facing Manchester City in the English Premier League on Dec 14, KuPS in the Conference League on Dec 18, and returning to league action on Dec 21, away at Leeds United.

Palace argued that both sides should have equal time to recover before the quarter-final, as Arsenal host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Dec 13.

The south London club were open to a Christmas Eve game, but that option was ruled out after talks with the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London, who cited limited public transport services.

Arsenal, the home team, were also opposed to playing on Christmas Eve, while Palace later proposed Dec 23 as an alternative, two days before Arsenal’s trip to Everton (Dec 21), kicking off at the same time as Palace’s game at Leeds.

“I don’t think that’s fair, because we have other competitions as well we have to try to accommodate. We knew at the start of the season the competitions that each club is playing in,” Arteta said.

“On balance, we have to try to accommodate the best possible way for everybody... There are other (options to Dec 23). Believe me, there are other options much better than this one. We already suggested that.”

The Spaniard warned that fixture congestion must be handled with fairness and player welfare in mind, otherwise clubs might eventually consider withdrawing from competitions.

“I hope we don’t go (that far),” he said. “If we have that big piece of paper with those two principles there in front before making any decision, all of us in our industry, we won’t get there.

“If we don’t and we just ignore that, then anything is possible.”

Palace manager Oliver Glasner, meanwhile, launched a scathing attack on football’s governing bodies.

“It would be nice if we have the Premier League, Uefa and EFL talk together because it’s not so surprising that this can happen. This would be irresponsible – playing Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday – because it’s about players’ welfare,” he said on Oct 31.

“There was a meeting in July in New York where Fifa met different players’ organisations and they suggested a mandatory 72 hours between two competitive games.

“And now, here in England, they say we don’t care what they are telling us. So that makes me upset.”

Meanwhile, Premier League chiefs have blamed the reduction of Boxing Day matches this season on the expansion of European competitions.

Fixtures on Dec 26 have been a traditional part of the Premier League’s Christmas schedule, but this year only one game will be played, when Manchester United host Newcastle United.

With Boxing Day falling on a Friday, the Premier League will instead play seven games on Saturday, Dec 27 and two on Sunday, Dec 28.

Aware that the lack of action on Boxing Day will prompt complaints from football traditionalists, the Premier League was quick to lay the blame on Uefa.

“There are now several challenges to Premier League fixture scheduling rooted in the expansion of European club competitions – which led to a revision of our domestic calendar ahead of last season, including changes to the FA Cup,” the Premier League said in a statement on Oct 31. REUTERS, AFP