Overview
- Negotiations between Arsenal, Crystal Palace and competition organisers are ongoing with no change to the quarter-final date confirmed.
- Arsenal prefer to keep the tie on Dec. 16 to avoid worsening their congested Christmas period.
- Crystal Palace want the match moved to the following week, with options such as Dec. 23 or Christmas Eve discussed, and Oliver Glasner called the Dec. 16 scenario irresponsible given a 54-hour turnaround from Manchester City on Dec. 14.
- Mikel Arteta said fixture choices should be guided by players’ welfare and supporters, adding that such an approach would prevent any talk of player strikes raised by Rodri last season.
- Both clubs face dense schedules driven by expanded competitions, with Arsenal in a run of seven matches in 22 days and Palace juggling Premier League and European commitments.