The Premier League has adjusted its calendar to prevent Arsenal and Crystal Palace from playing two matches within three days, including their League Cup quarter-final clash.

Both London clubs are also competing in Europe — Arsenal in the Champions League and Palace in the Conference League — creating fixture congestion and raising player welfare concerns.

Last week, the English Football League (EFL) highlighted that the League Cup was being affected by the congested schedule due to expanded European competitions, confirming that the Arsenal-Palace quarter-final would take place on December 23rd.

To give both teams adequate rest, the Premier League moved Everton vs Arsenal and Leeds United vs Crystal Palace from December 21st to December 20th (Saturday).

“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,” the league said in a statement.
“This comes after the scheduling of matches from other competitions around Premier League fixtures without adequate player recovery time.
“It also reflects the impact of expanded UEFA competitions on the domestic calendar. The League thanks Leeds United and Everton for their cooperation in accommodating these changes.”

Arsenal argued that playing two games within 48 hours would violate FIFA recommendations, which suggest a minimum of 72 hours’ rest between matches to protect player health and fitness.

The club also rejected playing the quarter-final on Christmas Eve, citing concerns for fans, staff, and public safety, with Metropolitan Police and Transport for London highlighting limited transport services.

Arsenal’s Upcoming Fixtures

Dec 20: Everton (away) – Premier League

Dec 23: Crystal Palace (home) – League Cup

Dec 27: Brighton & Hove Albion (home) – Premier League

Dec 30: Aston Villa (home) – Premier League

Crystal Palace’s Upcoming Fixtures

Dec 20: Leeds United (away) – Premier League

Dec 23: Arsenal (away) – League Cup

Dec 28: Tottenham Hotspur (home) – Premier League

Jan 1: Fulham (home) – Premier League

The fixture adjustments aim to ensure both teams have adequate rest before their League Cup showdown while maintaining competitive integrity across domestic and European competitions.