Mikel Arteta Seeks Rescheduling of Arsenals Premier League Fixture Against Everton on December 21

Situation Overview

Mikel Arteta, the current manager of Arsenal, is advocating for the rearrangement of his team’s Premier League encounter scheduled for December 21. This request arises in light of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup quarter-final match against Crystal Palace, which is set to take place just two days later.

Fixture Details

• The quarter-final clash between Arsenal and Palace is confirmed for December 23 at Emirates Stadium, with a kickoff at 20:00 GMT;
• Prior to this, Arsenal and Palace both have away fixtures against Everton and Leeds in the Premier League.

Comments from Arteta

Arteta expressed his concerns during a press conference leading up to Arsenal’s Champions League match against Slavia Prague. He noted,

It doesn’t make sense to compete just two days apart,

emphasizing that a change should occur following the recent decision regarding the EFL Cup.

Additional Insights

• Arteta confirmed that he has left communication regarding the fixture change to the club’s administration, stating their understanding of the most logical solution;
• The Premier League has yet to respond to requests for comment on this issue.

Broader Context

The English Football League (EFL) has criticized the current scheduling practices, noting significant challenges posed by fixture congestion. They have voiced concerns about the proliferation of European competitions, which they believe has occurred without sufficient consultation with national leagues.

EFL Statement Highlights

• EFL indicated a readiness to compromise on scheduling yet acknowledged that conflicts are becoming unavoidable;
• They underscored that continuous concessions might undermine the EFL Cup’s integrity and disrupt the traditional scheduling of the English football calendar.

Challenges Faced by Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace faces a demanding schedule, with four matches lined up between December 14 and 23, starting with a home game against Manchester City. Manager Oliver Glasner previously labeled it as “irresponsible” to expect players to participate in such condensed timelines.

Conclusion

Arteta’s call for a fixture change highlights the ongoing discussions concerning scheduling challenges in football, with an overarching emphasis on player welfare and maintaining the competition’s integrity. The landscape of European football’s calendar continues to evolve, complicating domestic fixtures and raising questions about the future of traditional match scheduling in England.