Credit: Getty Images
Arsenal have officially confirmed that the Gunners’ final home fixture of the season against Burnley has been moved to Monday, May 18, with an 8pm kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.
The match was originally scheduled for Sunday but has been selected for live broadcast by Sky Sports in the UK. According to [Arseblog News](https://arseblog.news/2026/04/arsenal-confirm-burnley-clash-moved-to-monday-night/), the broadcaster was reportedly unwilling to shift the fixture despite some resistance from the club.
FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER
The daily Arsenal FC newsletter
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The timing of the announcement, with less than three weeks’ notice, has drawn significant criticism from supporters and fan groups alike. For many Arsenal fans travelling from abroad who had earmarked this as a celebratory final home game of the campaign, the late change has created major logistical headaches.
Travel chaos for supporters
---------------------------
The fixture change has already thrown several fans’ plans into chaos, forcing them to rearrange flights, extend accommodation, or miss out on attending altogether. Burnley supporters face similar challenges in getting home after the match, particularly with the late 8pm start time.
The Monday night scheduling also strips away much of the traditional atmosphere surrounding the season’s final home fixture. Typically, supporters build entire weekends around these occasions, with pubs around the Emirates filling from early afternoon and emotions running high ahead of the customary lap of appreciation.
Arsenal Supporters’ Trust responds
----------------------------------
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust has expressed disappointment with the scheduling change, highlighting the particular difficulties it creates for supporters.
“This timing creates clear difficulties for both sets of supporters, particularly those travelling or relying on public transport, and increases costs and disruption,” the AST stated.
The supporters’ group also noted that the traditional lap of appreciation will not take place until around 10pm, making it significantly less accessible for many fans, especially those needing to catch public transport home.
The AST acknowledged the financial benefits that broadcast deals bring to the club but urged both Arsenal and the Premier League to give greater consideration to the impact on matchgoing supporters when approving fixture changes.
The scheduling decision represents yet another example of television companies prioritizing broadcast requirements over supporter convenience, with the late notice making the situation particularly frustrating for those who have already made travel arrangements for what many hoped would be a season-ending celebration at the Emirates.