Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal are bracing for a hectic festive schedule, with fixtures piling up as the Premier League leaders continue their push for the title.
Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Turf Moor this weekend to face Burnley, their third match in the space of six days as they look to extend their strong run of form. The Arsenal boss is expected to bring back several key players who were rested during the midweek Carabao Cup win over Brighton.
Those changes did little to disrupt the team’s rhythm, as second-half goals from Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka sealed an impressive 2-0 victory, marking the Gunners’ eighth consecutive win across all competitions.
Attention now shifts back to the Premier League, where Arsenal currently sit four points clear at the top of the table. A win at Turf Moor could strengthen their position, but it won’t be straightforward; Burnley have lost just once at home this season, that defeat coming via a stoppage-time penalty from Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
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However, the growing concern for Arsenal lies in their upcoming schedule. The club’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace, set for December, has created significant fixture congestion during the festive period, traditionally one of the busiest times of the English football calendar.
Talks are ongoing between the clubs and competition organisers to determine a suitable date for the tie. Three options are reportedly being considered: December 16, December 23, and Christmas Eve.
Arsenal
Arsenal will host Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)
Arsenal’s preference is for the match to take place on December 16, but the situation is complicated by Palace’s packed calendar, which includes Premier League and European commitments in the same week.
If the match were played on December 16, Palace would face three games in just five days with a league match against Manchester City on December 14 and a UEFA Conference League fixture against KuPS on December 18.
Holding the game on December 23 would also cause problems, giving both teams only two days to recover from their league fixtures on December 21, when Arsenal visit Everton and Palace travel to Leeds.
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That leaves December 24, Christmas Eve as the only date offering both clubs a reasonable rest period. However, this option has already sparked controversy among fans. Many supporters have expressed frustration at the idea of attending a game on Christmas Eve, citing travel difficulties, policing concerns, and the disruption to family celebrations.
Two years ago, the Premier League faced similar backlash when Chelsea and Wolves were scheduled to play on Christmas Eve, a move widely criticised for disregarding fan welfare during a period of heavy travel and limited public transport options.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the challenge of balancing player welfare with fan considerations, stressing the importance of both in fixture planning. “Every decision that we make in terms of a fixture has to be guided on two main things I think: player welfare and then supporters, that’s it,” Arteta said.
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