Premier League Moves Arsenal and Palace Fixtures to Ease Cup Congestion

In a significant scheduling shift ahead of the busy festive period, the Premier League has agreed to move league games involving Arsenal and Crystal Palace to help both clubs manage their upcoming Carabao Cup quarter-final clash.

Both teams were originally slated to play Premier League away fixtures on Sunday, December 21—Arsenal at Everton and Palace at Leeds United. However, with the two London sides drawn to face each other at the Emirates in the League Cup just 48 hours later, concerns over fixture congestion and player welfare prompted both clubs to request adjustments to the domestic schedule.​

After discussions with stakeholders, the Premier League confirmed both matches will now take place on Saturday, December 20 at 8pm. This provides a crucial extra day for rest, aligning with FIFA’s recommendations for a minimum of 72 hours recovery between games. The Carabao Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace stays on Tuesday, December 23, ensuring both squads are given a fairer window to prepare for one of their most important matches of the season.​

The league thanked Everton and Leeds United for their cooperation, acknowledging the increasing strain the expanded UEFA competitions place upon the domestic fixture calendar. A Premier League spokesperson highlighted that “player welfare is a priority,” echoing recent public concerns raised by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and Palace manager Oliver Glasner.

Despite these changes, Palace are still contending with a grueling period, as their Conference League game against KuPS at Selhurst Park remains on Thursday, December 18. That scheduling gives them two crucial matches in just three days, and manager Glasner has voiced frustration with what he described as prioritizing profits over player welfare, noting the lack of flexibility granted by UEFA for moving the European clash.​

Below are the confirmed festive fixtures:

Arsenal

December 20: Everton (A) – Premier League

December 23: Crystal Palace (H) – Carabao Cup quarter-final

December 27: Brighton (H) – Premier League

December 30: Aston Villa (H) – Premier League

Crystal Palace

December 18: KuPS (H) – UEFA Conference League

December 20: Leeds United (A) – Premier League

December 23: Arsenal (A) – Carabao Cup quarter-final

December 28: Tottenham (H) – Premier League

With the fixture pile-up a regular talking point each December, the Premier League’s latest move is a bid to keep player health at the forefront of a relentless calendar and ensure cup ties continue to deliver high-quality, competitive football for supporters.​

Follow us on Tiktok for more football content