Mikel Arteta has called on the Premier League to move Arsenal’s match against Everton to avoid the Gunners having two games in three days.
The EFL announced on Monday that the Carabao Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace had been moved to December 23, saying fixture pile-ups of this nature were now “entirely unavoidable”.
The Carabao Cup tie was originally due to be played on December 16 but that would have left Palace playing four games in eight days. Now, both teams are set to play two matches in three days, with Palace and Arsenal due to be in league action on December 21.
Arteta has suggested Arsenal will seek to have their match against Everton moved, presumably to December 20.
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“Hopefully they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn’t make any sense,” the Arsenal boss said ahead of his side’s Champions League match against Slavia Prague.
“So now we decide the date (for the Carabao Cup match) I am sure they will change the Premier League (match) as well.”
Asked if he had made a request to the Premier League, Arteta replied: “I’ll leave that to the club. I think we’re very clear what was the best thing, the more logical day to play, they bring a different date.”
Asked if it was going to test his squad’s depth to play games in such quick succession, Arteta said: “We have seven players out, so I don’t know what depth we’re talking about now because we’re missing a lot of players, a lot of front players.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta(Bradley Collyer/PA)
“If we continue to do that every three days….we want respecting again. What we discussed previously (on player welfare), that in our opinion it’s the most important part.”
Palace would have faced four matches in eight days if the original date had been held. They host Manchester City in the Premier League on December 14, then would have had to squeeze in a meeting with the Gunners on December 16 before taking on KuPS of Finland in the Conference League on December 18 and then returning to Premier League action against Leeds on December 21.
However, the match has now been confirmed for December 23, with an 8pm kick-off.
Palace coach Oliver Glasner said it would be “irresponsible” to allow the game to go ahead on December 16.