Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has publicly called for a reschedule of his team's Premier League match on December 21. This request stems from the English Football League's (EFL) decision to schedule Arsenal's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace just two days later, on December 23, at Emirates Stadium (20:00 GMT). Both clubs are set to play away Premier League fixtures against Everton and Leeds, respectively, before this tight turnaround, leading to concerns about fixture congestion.

Arteta voiced his frustration during a news conference, stating, “Hopefully they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn't make any sense.” He expressed confidence that with the EFL Cup date now fixed, the Premier League match would also be adjusted. When questioned about direct communication with the Premier League, Arteta confirmed he had left that to the club, emphasizing their clear position on the most logical day to play.

The scheduling conflict also significantly impacts Crystal Palace, who face a particularly demanding period. Their existing schedule includes a challenging run of four games between December 14 and 23, which commences with a home match against Manchester City and also involves hosting Finnish club KuPS in the UEFA Conference League on December 18 at Selhurst Park.

The EFL itself has been critical of the situation, releasing a statement that lambasted the “expansion of European cup competitions.” The league believes this expansion was “implemented without adequate consultation with domestic leagues,” leading to fixture congestion that is now “entirely unavoidable.”

The statement from the EFL further warned that “To continue making endless concessions only serves to undermine the reputation of the EFL Cup. It also challenges the traditional scheduling of the English football calendar and strength of our domestic game.” The league expressed its shared “frustration and concern” with managers and players over the congested programme, which restricts preparation time and the ability of clubs to field their strongest line-ups in the EFL Cup.

The underlying cause is UEFA's expanded European calendar, which now spans 10 midweeks, a significant increase from the six midweeks of two seasons ago. The Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League are each given standalone weeks for exposure, creating substantial logistical challenges. This complexity forced the third round of the EFL Cup to be seeded and played across two weeks to prevent clashes between clubs participating in the Champions League and Europa League.

Echoing Arteta's concerns, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner had previously stated it would be “irresponsible” if his club were compelled to play two games within three days. Arteta, in turn, highlighted the importance of “respecting” the squad depth of teams to maintain the integrity of the competition, asserting that decisions should prioritize players, supporters, and ensure equality and fair chances for every club.

The broader impact of increased European fixtures is also evident in the Premier League's recent announcement regarding the traditional Boxing Day fixtures. Blaming the European schedule, the Premier League confirmed there would be only one game on December 26 this year: Manchester United's home match against Newcastle United (20:00), a stark contrast to the long-standing tradition of a full slate of matches on this date.