The Premier League has rescheduled two key December fixtures to help Arsenal and Crystal Palace manage fixture congestion. Both clubs face demanding schedules during the busy holiday period.
Arsenal’s away match against Everton and Crystal Palace’s home game against Leeds United were originally set for Sunday, December 21. These fixtures will now kick off at 20:00 GMT on Saturday, December 20 instead.
This change gives both teams extra preparation time. They meet in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on December 23. The EFL previously moved this cup tie from December 16.
Crystal Palace’s Conference League involvement created scheduling challenges. Without these adjustments, Palace would have played three matches in just five days.
Despite the changes, Palace still faces a tight turnaround. Their Conference League match against Finnish side KuPS occurs on December 18. This leaves them with two games in three days.
Arsenal considered playing the EFL Cup tie on Christmas Eve. However, the club rejected this option. A spokesperson explained: “We examined all possibilities including Christmas Eve. The impact on supporters and staff made it unworkable.”
To assist traveling fans, Arsenal will provide subsidized coach services. Supporters can travel to Everton for £10 on December 20. This ensures accessibility despite the schedule change.
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