Arsenal opposes Palace request to move Cup tie
Arsenal has opposed Crystal Palace's request to reschedule their Carabao Cup quarter-final to 24 December (AEDT), 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 17 December (AEDT), part of a gruelling run of four games in eight days, with Palace facing Manchester City in the Premier League on 15 December (AEDT), KuPS in the UEFA Conference League on 19 December (AEDT), and returning to league action on 22 December (AEDT), away at Leeds United.
Palace argued that both sides should have equal time to recover before the quarter-final, as Arsenal hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers on 14 December (AEDT).
The south London club was open to a Christmas Eve (local time) game, but that option was ruled out after talks with the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London, which both cited limited public transport services.
Arsenal, the home team, was also opposed to playing on Christmas Eve, while Palace later proposed 23 December (local time) as an alternative, two days before Arsenal's trip to Everton, 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.
"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."
Arteta was responding after Palace boss Oliver Glasner openly expressed his anger at the scheduling, calling the decision to play so many games to close to each other "irresponsible".
