Arsenal oppose Palace’s request to rearrange the League Cup clash

Arsenal have opposed Crystal Palace’s request to move their League Cup quarter-final to December 23, with manager Mikel Arteta saying it would be unfair for both teams to play twice in just 48 hours.

The match is now set for December 16, part of a grueling run of four games in eight days, with Palace facing Manchester City in the Premier League on December 14, KuPS in the Conference League on December 18 and returning to league action on December 21 away at Leeds.

Palace argued both sides should be given equal time to recover ahead of the quarter-final as Arsenal host Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 13.

The south London club were open to a game on Christmas Eve, but that option was ruled out following talks with the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London, who cited limited public transport services.

Arsenal, the home team, were also opposed to playing on Christmas Eve, while Palace later proposed 23 December as an alternative, two days before Arsenal’s trip to Everton (21 December), starting at the same time as Palace’s match at Leeds.

“I don’t think that’s fair, because we have other competitions, we have to try to respond. We knew at the beginning of the season the competitions that each club plays in,” Arteta said.

“Overall we have to try to offer the best possible way for everyone … There are other (options until December 23). Believe me, there are other options much better than this one. We have already proposed it.”

The Spaniard warned that fixture congestion must be tackled with fairness and player welfare in mind, or clubs may consider pulling out of competitions.

“I hope we don’t go (that far),” he said. “If we have this big piece of paper with these two principles in front of us before we make any decision, all of us in our industry, we’re not going to get there.

“If we don’t and just ignore it, then anything is possible.”