By Michelle Ndaga
The Premier League has adjusted its December schedule, moving two fixtures forward by a day to help reduce fixture congestion during the busy holiday period.
Arsenal’s away match against Everton at Goodison Park, initially set for December 21, has been brought forward to December 20 at 8 p.m.
The change follows a request from Arsenal, who were due to face Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final just 72 hours later on December 23. The rescheduling is intended to provide the London side with additional recovery time ahead of the knockout tie.
In a related adjustment, Crystal Palace’s league match away to Leeds United has also been shifted to December 20 at the same kickoff time. Palace, who will play a UEFA Conference League match on December 18, now face a tight turnaround but gain an extra day before the cup quarter-final.
The Premier League said the decision was made to ensure a “more balanced and fair scheduling window” amid an already crowded December calendar, where domestic, European and cup competitions overlap.
Reactions among supporters have been mixed. While some fans welcomed the effort to ease player fatigue and improve match quality, others raised concerns about late travel arrangements, particularly those needing to rearrange transport and accommodation at short notice.
Both Arsenal and Crystal Palace will now prepare for a demanding week of fixtures as the holiday football period approaches a stretch that could prove decisive in their league and cup ambitions.
