Arsenal Reject Crystal Palace Request to Reschedule EFL Cup Quarterfinal Amid Fixture Congestion

Arsenal has declined Crystal Palace's request to reschedule their League Cup quarter-final from December 16 to December 23, citing concerns over fairness and player welfare. Palace faces a demanding schedule with four games in eight days, including matches against Manchester City, KuPS, and Leeds, and argued that both teams should have equal recovery time before the quarter-final. However, Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta emphasized that the December 23 proposal was impractical due to clashes with other fixtures and that alternative dates were suggested. Discussions around a Christmas Eve match were also dismissed due to public transport limitations and opposition from both clubs. Arteta stressed the importance of managing fixture congestion fairly to avoid clubs potentially withdrawing from competitions. Overall, Arsenal seeks to balance multiple competitions while prioritizing player welfare and scheduling fairness.