Arsenal and Crystal Palace have a fixture puzzle to solve after League Cup draw(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal face fixture nightmare over Crystal Palace tie amid Emirates Stadium issue

31 Oct 2024, 11:00 by Tom Canton · football.london

Arsenal progressed to a quarter-final for the first time since their appearance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season. However, their fortunes in the Carabao Cup have been far different, having been eliminated by West Ham and Brighton in the last two seasons with the hope of a trophy on the horizon.

The Gunners were comfortable in their 3-0 victory over Preston North End and got some important goals for different reasons for Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri. Kai Havertz chipped in with the third after a great header to continue his strong scoring season ahead of three back-to-back away games.

The Arsenal fixture schedule is certainly a gauntlet ahead of the next November international break. However, the closer to the festive period it gets, they will have a capital-exclusive winter as every December game will be based in London.

Their quarter-final draw opponent was indeed another home game against another club from the capital, Crystal Palace. Yet there is a problem that the club and those deciding the fixtures now must overcome.

The quarter-finals are set to take place the week commencing December 16. This was a free week for the men's team but there is an issue as the women's team are due to face Bayern Munich in the Women’s UEFA Champions League on Wednesday December 18th, with the game set to take place at the Emirates Stadium - and tickets are already on sale.

Palace play on the Sunday at Brighton which many would assume rules out a Tuesday date. While Palace and Arsenal play each other on the following Saturday at Selhurst Park, which again would usually rule out a Thursday fixture – Wednesday looked like the most realistic day it could have taken place.

We have already seen this season a case where circumstances meant a stadium switch was needed. AFC Wimbledon saw their home draw with Newcastle switched to St. James' Park after the Cherry Red Records Stadium was flooded with damage to the pitch.

"Following an agreement between both clubs and subsequent approval from the management committee of the competition, the fixture will now be reversed and will take place a week later at St James' Park," an EFL statement said.

This would be a highly unlikely outcome in this case, and a switch of the women's game could instead be explored among other options with a freer fixture schedule than the men's calendar, though there would naturally be some outcry with the game already set and tickets on sale. Further updates will be provided in due course.

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