Overview
- Arsenal travel to Turf Moor on Saturday for a 3pm UK kickoff that will not be shown live domestically due to the broadcast blackout.
- Gabriel Martinelli is unavailable and William Saliba is a fitness doubt for Burnley, according to Mikel Arteta’s pre-match update.
- Arteta reiterated that fixture decisions should prioritise player welfare and supporters, framing the schedule debate around those principles.
- Crystal Palace want the quarter-final moved from 16 December because they face league and European games on 14 and 18 December; Christmas Eve was ruled out over policing and transport concerns.
- Arsenal, four points clear at the top after eight straight wins in all competitions and a run of clean sheets, prefer to keep the tie on 16 December, with the EFL to decide next week.