Arsenal and Crystal Palace fixtures moved as TV decision adds to chaos

Arsenal and Crystal Palace have seen Premier League fixtures moved after their Carabao Cup clash had to be re-arranged due to the Eagles’ European commitments

Arsenal and Crystal Palace have had their Premier League fixtures against Everton and Leeds rescheduled for December 20. The decision comes after the Gunners requested their game be played a day earlier after the Carabao Cup match between the sides was moved.

Everton v Arsenal and Leeds United v Crystal Palace fixtures have been moved from 14:00 on Sunday 21 December, to 20:00 on Saturday 20 December. This sees them remain in a televised slot.

It also sees Palace still play two games in three days after UEFA turned down Crystal Palace’s plea to reschedule their Conference League match with KuPS, set for 18 December, to Wednesday 17. It’s understood Palace and Arsenal have both submitted formal requests to bring forward the top-flight matches to Saturday December 20 to enable an extra day of rest for their players ahead of their cup meeting on December 23.

In addition, the Premier League said: “Player welfare is a priority for the Premier League, and we have therefore granted requests from Arsenal and Crystal Palace to move their respective fixtures.

“This comes after the scheduling of matches from other competitions around Premier League fixtures without adequate player recovery time. This is also further evidence of the impact the expanded UEFA competitions have on the domestic fixture calendar.

“The League would like to thank Leeds United and Everton for their co-operation in accommodating these changes. Both matches will remain live on Sky Sports.”

Speaking earlier this month, Oliver Glasner blasted the scheduling of fixtures by various bodieees. The Austrian said: “It’s not about the welfare of the players.

“It’s not about talking together and find what’s best. Everybody is just looking at himself to maximise the money.

“That’s the situation. Now we can say it’s the UEFA schedule. It was clear this week before Christmas there is the Conference League played. It’s clear, 99 per cent, that the English participants will play there. So why fix the Carabao quarter-final there? Why? I just don’t understand. Again, it was clear.

“Then I think, maybe somebody corrects me, there is a hierarchy in football. So it’s the UEFA games, it’s the Premier League games and then I don’t know how it’s FA or EFL or it’s on the same level. And then if there is a UEFA game day, you can’t say we play the quarter-final.”

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