Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace: Why was this match delayed?

The festive period is always tough for big Premier League teams. Games come very quickly. Players barely get time to rest. League matches continue. Cup games are added. European fixtures also happen at the same time.

This creates pressure on squads. Players are asked to play again and again. Minutes pile up. Injuries become a risk. Managers often raise concerns during this period.

That is exactly what happened with Arsenal and Crystal Palace. Their Carabao Cup quarterfinal did not take place with the other matches. While most games were played on December 16 and 17, this one was pushed back.

The match will now be played on December 23. It will take place at the Emirates Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time in London. That is just 2 days before Christmas.

The reason for the delay is simple. The schedule became too crowded. Crystal Palace were hit the hardest. They had already played Manchester City on December 14. They then faced Finnish side KuPS in the Europa Conference League on December 18. Adding another match in between would have meant 3 games in just 5 days.

That was seen as too much. The players would not have enough recovery time. The coaching staff also raised concerns. For this reason, the match had to be moved.

Arsenal also had a busy run. They beat Wolves on December 13. They then had a Premier League game against Everton on December 20. Playing 3 games in 7 days is tough. Still, it is more common for top clubs.

In November, Mikel Arteta stepped in. He asked for the Everton game to be moved from December 21 to December 20. This was done to manage the cup tie against Palace. Crystal Palace also had their league game against Leeds moved earlier. This shortened their recovery after the European match.

In the end, player welfare took priority. The delay allows both teams to prepare better. It also reduces the risk of fatigue and injuries during a hectic festive schedule.