Arsenal have strongly opposed Crystal Palace's request to move their Carabao Cup quarter-final to 23 December, with Mikel Arteta insisting it would be unfair to make both teams play two matches in little more than 48 hours. The tie is currently scheduled for 16 December, but Palace face a congested fixture list with Premier League and Conference League commitments either side.
Palace argued that both sides should have equal preparation time, given Arsenal play Wolves on 15 December, 24 hours before Palace face Manchester City. They proposed 23 December as an alternative, but Arsenal pushed back during talks with the English Football League (EFL), maintaining the original date should be kept. A decision is expected next week.
Arteta emphasised that player welfare and supporters must be the key factors in scheduling decisions. He warned that clubs could consider pulling out of competitions if fixture congestion is not resolved. 'If we ignore those principles, anything is possible,' he said.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner described the prospect of playing on 16 December as 'irresponsible' and 'dangerous' for players, and expressed frustration that wider scheduling issues had not been addressed by leagues and governing bodies.
The proposal to play on Christmas Eve was quickly ruled out due to concerns over public transport availability. In team news, Gabriel Martinelli remains sidelined, William Saliba is a doubt for Saturday's match at Burnley, while Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke could return after the next international break.
