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Arsenal have been handed a significant boost in the Premier League title race after the league rejected Manchester City’s request to switch fixtures around their FA Cup final commitments.
[According to the Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.com/sport/football/article-15771381/Title-race-TV-row-Arsenal-advantage-Man-City-bid-switch-matches-REJECTED.html), City had requested to swap their matches against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace to ease their congested fixture schedule, but the Premier League has maintained the current order of matches.
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The Citizens currently trail Arsenal by three points but have a game in hand against Crystal Palace. However, their path to the title has become more challenging with their progression to the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 16.
City’s current fixture list sees them face Crystal Palace on May 13, just three days before the FA Cup final. They will then play Bournemouth on May 19 before finishing their season against Aston Villa on May 24.
City’s rejected proposal
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Pep Guardiola’s side had hoped to switch the Bournemouth and Palace fixtures, which would have allowed them to play Bournemouth on May 12 and Crystal Palace on either May 19 or 20. This change would have provided crucial additional recovery time between matches.
The complication arose because Crystal Palace’s participation in the Conference League prevents them from playing on Tuesday, forcing the Wednesday fixture and shortening City’s recovery window. Under their proposed schedule, City would have played three times in eight or nine days, compared to the current plan of three matches in seven days.
The Premier League, after discussions with City, Bournemouth, and Crystal Palace, has decided to maintain the existing fixture order, with an official announcement expected shortly.
Pressure mounts on the champions
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This decision comes at a crucial time for both title contenders. Arsenal can extend their lead to six points if they defeat Fulham on Saturday, which would pile enormous pressure on City ahead of their Monday night clash with Everton.
Guardiola recently expressed concerns about player fatigue, stating after the Burnley match: “Arsenal was so demanding emotionally, it’s normal. Three days later, three days later. Our people were so, so tired.”
The City boss also highlighted injury concerns, adding: “Some physios told me be careful of that player, that player, for the history, for the potential injury. If one player is injured right now, it’s gone, it is over.”
With the fixture congestion now confirmed, Arsenal appear to have been handed a psychological advantage in the title race. The Gunners can focus solely on their Premier League commitments while City must navigate the additional pressure of an FA Cup final amid their packed schedule.