Mikel Arteta has responded to the anger of Arsenal supporters after the Premier League rescheduled the club's final home game of the season against Burnley for Monday, May 18, with an 8pm kick-off. The Gunners boss admitted the change is "not ideal" for fans, but acknowledged that television broadcasters have the right to make such alterations.
Fixture Change Sparks Fan Fury
The Arsenal Supporters' Trust expressed strong disappointment over the decision, highlighting the difficulties it creates for match-going fans. In a statement, the Trust said: "This timing creates clear difficulties for both sets of supporters, particularly those travelling or relying on public transport, and increases costs and disruption. As the final home game of the season, it also means the traditional lap of appreciation will not take place until around 10pm, making it less accessible for many fans."
The Trust also noted that they had engaged with Arsenal ahead of the most recent broadcast deal, urging the club to consider the impact on supporters when approving such agreements. They called on both Arsenal and the Premier League to do more to ensure scheduling reflects the needs of match-going fans.
Arteta's Response
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid, Arteta said: "I'm not surprised. It's the last home game of the season. You want to play at the weekend. The time and date was set and now it's been changed. It's not ideal, especially for our supporters, but TV has the right to do this. They've done it. Unfortunately, we're going to have to adapt to that as well and play our game. Try to have everybody in that stadium in the same manner with the same energy because obviously we know what is at stake."
Title Race Implications
The rescheduling comes as Arsenal and Manchester City are locked in a tight title race. City are also unhappy with their schedule, facing three games in seven days. The Premier League has defended the move, stating that every team is required to play at least one Friday or Monday night match to maintain league integrity. Arsenal had yet to fulfill their Monday night quota.
Arsenal's busy run-in includes the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, league games against Fulham, West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace, and a potential final against Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain. The Burnley match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
