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Why Arsenal are not playing Carabao Cup quarter-final this week as Palace clash is changed

Arsenal won't be playing their Carabao Cup quarter-final this week unlike the rest of the teams left in the competition.

Cardiff host Chelsea on Tuesday night before Manchester City meet Brentford and Newcastle welcome Fulham on Wednesday as the Carabao Cup approaches its conclusion.

Mikel Merino celebrates scoring for Arsenal

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Arsenal will have to play this match closer to Christmas then they probably intendedCredit: Getty

All of the games will be across the talkSPORT network, but Arsenal will have to wait.

Their match is scheduled for Tuesday, December 23 instead, and it's all down to the fixture list for both teams.

Why are Arsenal not playing their Carabao Cup quarter-final this week?

The match was initially set to take place this week, but due to Palace's involvement in the Conference League, they were going to have to play three games in five days.

This is because this week in UEFA competitions is the Conference League exclusive matchweek.

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So, there is no Champions League or Europa League, with full focus given to the Conference League.

As such, Palace's quarter-final against Arsenal has been pushed back to next week.

Palace's players are going to be pushed to the limit

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Palace's players are going to be pushed to the limitCredit: Getty

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: Date and how to follow

This Carabao Cup quarter-final will take place on Tuesday, December 23 and kick-off at the Emirates is scheduled for 8pm.

talkSPORT has live coverage of the match, with Adrian Durham serving as your presenter.

Commentary will come from Jim Proudfoot and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto.

To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

talkSPORT.com will also be right across the action.

Oliver Glasner is going to need to manage his squad carefully over the next few games

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Oliver Glasner is going to need to manage his squad carefully over the next few gamesCredit: Getty

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace: What has been said?

Before the fixture was changed, Mikel Arteta claimed that it wouldn't be fair if this match was moved.

Speaking back in October, he said: "I don't think that is fair (if the match is rescheduled) because we have other competitions as well.

But he does understand the frustrations of the fixture schedule.

"We knew at the start of the season the competitions that each club is playing in, so on balance we have to try to accommodate the best possible way for everybody.

"Every decision that we make in terms of a fixture has to be guided on two main things; players' welfare, and then supporters, and that is it, and the rest has to come very, very far away from that. And we should never forget that principle.

"If we have that big piece of paper with those two principles there in front before we make 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.

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"If we look after the players' welfare and our supporters, we are never going to get to that point (players going on strike).

"We have to close the window there. We cannot open that window. It has to be closed. It's our most precious value. We have the best league in the world and we cannot just open any window for anything just to lose that because we don't respect that, and we forget what we are made of and what makes this game and this league so, so special. And if we respect that, I'm sure we're going to be totally fine."

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