Mikel Arteta wants the Premier League to move his Arsenal side's Premier League clash at his former club Everton on December 21
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is not happy with the date his side will face his former club Everton
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is not happy with the date his side will face his former club Everton
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on the Premier League to move his side's match against his former club Everton to avoid them having two games in three days. The EFL announced on Monday that the Carabao Cup quarter-final between the Gunners and Crystal Palace had been moved to Tuesday, December 23, saying fixture pile-ups of this nature were now "entirely unavoidable".
The last-eight clash was originally due to be played on Tuesday, 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 the Eagles and Arsenal due to be in league action on Sunday, December 21.
And Arteta has suggested Gunners will seek to have their match against Everton moved, presumably to Saturday, December 20. It is currently set to be played at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, December 21 (2pm kick-off).
"Hopefully they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn't make any sense," the Spaniard said ahead of his side's Champions League clash against Slavia Prague on Tuesday.
"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, who moved to the Gunners in the summer of 2011 after six full seasons at Everton, 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.
"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 quarter-final 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 Arsenal December 16 before taking on KuPS of Finland in the Conference League on December 18 and then returning to Premier League action against Leeds United on December 21.
However, the tie 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.
The Premier League declined to comment when contacted by the PA news agency.
The EFL said scheduling conflicts were "entirely unavoidable" as a result of the expansion of European cup competitions and insisted it had shown "a willingness to compromise".
It added in a statement: "However, to continue making endless concessions only serves to undermine the reputation of the EFL Cup – a competition which delivers vital revenue to EFL clubs and provides millions of supporters with the opportunity to back their team on the road to Wembley each season."