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Arsenal vs Crystal Palace in Carabao Cup Could Now Be Scheduled For Unusual Day arsenal crystal palace
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Oliver Glasner-managed Crystal Palace are set to lock horns, for a second time this season, in the Carabao Cup quarter-final. Recently, the pair beat Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool, respectively, to reach the next round of the competition β but why is the all-London affair creating an enormous fixture headache?
Glasner, who has emerged as the favourite for the Liverpool job should Arne Slot face the sack, will be looking to get pay-back on the Gunners as, earlier this month, Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze β who signed from the Eagles in the summer β opened and closed the scoring in a 1-0 win in the Premier League.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Crystal Palace’s recent, 19-match unbeaten streak in all competitions was the longest unbeaten run in their history.
Arsenal and Palace, both keen on earning silverware before the end of term, will be looking ahead at booking a spot in the final of the competition; as will the likes of Manchester City, Brentford, Cardiff City, Chelsea, Fulham and defending champions Newcastle United. But, as things stand, there are concerns over the scheduling of the fixture in question.
As things stand, the quarter-finals are scheduled to be played out in the week commencing December 15 but Palace β reigning champions of the FA Cup β are set to face Finnish side Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) in the Europa Conference League that week. As a result, Glasner’s side could be forced to play four games in the space of eight days.
Arsenal v Palace Carabao Cup Tie Causes Fixture Headache
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Unless an alternative date can be found and all parties are happy, such fixture congestion would raise concerns over the welfare of the Selhurst Park squad, which includes the likes of hitman Jean-Philippe Mateta, the generational Adam Wharton and skipper Marc Guehi.
Palace’s fixture pile-up is not an ideal situation, of course, but there are very few viable options that will cause no disruption for anyone. Currently, the fixture is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, 2025, but the Eagles’ involvement in Europe is making things rather tricky as the games continue to come thick and fast.
Adding to that, sheduling issues are further complicated by the fact that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City β who they beat in the FA Cup final last season β are visiting south London for a Premier League encounter on Sunday, December 14.
We will face Arsenal away from home in the quarter-final π€
In terms of when the fixture could be re-arranged for Christmas Eve β December 24 β is on the cards. Regrettably though, that date falls on a midweek working day and that would be a challenge for supporters, players and staff.
There is also the potential for Arsenal and Palace’s Carabao Cup tie to be played on a weekend too β but that is a rogue solution and one that wouldn’t go down with Premier League chiefs as it causes disruption to their broadcasting of England top flight matches.
Without the inclusion of the Carabao Cup encounter, Palace’s packed fixtures list comprises four games in 11 days: they face Irish side Shelbourne on Thursday, December 11, before welcoming City to the capital three days later. Locking horns with KuPS is then on the cards on that Thursday before travelling to Elland Road to face Leeds United on the weekend.
Arteta’s Arsenal, meanwhile, play at Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, December 10 before playing host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday, December 13 β an 8pm kick-off. They round off their week with Everton on Sunday, December 21.
Palace and Arsenal Fixtures Over the Festive Period
Palace
Arsenal
Date
Opponent (H/A)
Competition
Date
Opponent (H/A)
Competition
11/12
Shelbourne (A)
Conference League
10/12
Club Brugge (A)
Champions League
14/12
Man City (A)
Premier League
13/12
Wolves (H)
Premier League
16/12
Arsenal (A) – OPTION 1
Carabao Cup
16/12
Palace (H) – OPTION 1
Carabao Cup
18/12
KuPS (H)
Conference League
21/12
Everton (A)
Premier League
21/12
Leeds Utd (A)
Premier League
24/12
Palace (H) – OPTION 2
Carabao Cup
24/12
Arsenal (A) – OPTION 2
Carabao Cup
N/A
N/A
N/A
Finding a time that works around both schedules is proving tricky β but it seems that the fixture will be played either on Tuesday, December 16 (which would, therefore, see Glasner’s men play four games in the space of eight days) or Christmas Eve, which would be hugely problematic for everyone involved.
A fixture on the day before Christmas Day would have to take place in the afternoon rather than two teams playing in the evening β for obvious reasons. Although it is a very rare occurence, Wolverhampton Wanderers faced and beat Chelsea on Christmas Eve in 2024, and that kicked off at 1pm.
Set to take place at the Emirates Stadium, it is written in the rulebook that all quarter-finals must take place before the semi-finals, the opening legs of which are to be played in the week commencing January 12. Both Arsenal and Palace will have an FA Cup third-round tie on the weekend of January 10-11, which restricts them even further.
Mikel Arteta could start 16-year-old in third-ro
ArsenalΒ are expected to rotate when they travel to take onΒ PortsmouthΒ in theΒ FA Cup.
It is the first of four away games in four competitions in the space of nine days and Mikel Arteta is set to make use of the strong squad available to him.
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That could mean a first start for Eberechi Eze since the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace last month, while Noni Madueke is also in contention to come into the side.
Arsenal hope to have Kai Havertz in the squad but he is not believed to be ready to start, so Gabriel Jesus will likely lead the line unless Arteta opts to keep trying to play Viktor Gyokeres into form.
The Gunners will again be without Riccardo Calafiori, with Arteta confirming that this match will be “too early” for him.
Piero Hincapie is also a major doubt, having gone off against Liverpool with a suspected hamstring injury. He was due to undergo scans on Friday.
“We have to see the extent of what happened to Piero,” Arteta said.
“He could not carry on in the second half, so I donβt know exactly what it is.”
That leaves Myles Lewis-Skelly as the obvious starter at left-back and there could be an opportunity for 16-year-old Marli Salmon if Arteta decides to rest one of Gabriel or William Saliba.
Kepa will start in goal, as he has been doing in the Carabao Cup, and the likes of Christian Norgaard and Mikel Merino are options in midfield.
Ethan Nwaneri will hope for some minutes, even off the bench. He has not featured since the win over Club Brugge a month ago.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3):Β Kepa; White, Saliba, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Merino, Eze; Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli
Injured:Β Calafiori, Mosquera, Dowman
Doubts:Β Hincapie, Havertz
Time and date:Β 2pmΒ GMT on Sunday, January 11, 2026
How to watch: TNT Sports
Venue:Β Fratton Park
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Arsenal injury, suspension list and return dates vs. Portsmouth: Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera latest
ArsenalΒ will begin their bid to win the FA Cup for the 15th time in their history when they travel to Fratton Park for Sunday’s meeting with Championship strugglersΒ Portsmouth.
The Gunners missed the chance to further extend their six-point lead at the top of theΒ Premier League tableΒ in Thursday’s underwhelmingΒ goalless draw against LiverpoolΒ at the Emirates Stadium.
While their five-game winning league run came to an end,Β Mikel ArtetaΒ will be pleased with the fact that his side are now unbeaten in seven competitive matches ahead of Sunday’s cup tie and Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
Here,Β Sports MoleΒ rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with Portsmouth, who are languishing in 21st spot in theΒ Championship standings.
Piero Hincapie
Status:Β Major doubt
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date:Β January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Hincapie was forced off with what appeared to be a muscle problem in the 57th minute of Thursday’s draw with Liverpool. Arteta now faces a nervous wait to discover the full extent of the defender’s injury.
Kai Havertz
Status:Β Minor doubt
Type of injury: Match fitness
Possible return date:Β January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Havertz has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of action for months. However, he has been left out of Arsenal’s last two matchday squads as he continues to build up his fitness. There is a possibility that the forward could make his first appearance since August in Sunday’s FA Cup clash.
Riccardo Calafiori
Status:Β Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date:Β January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Calafiori has sat out Arsenal’s last four matches with a muscle injury. The defender is making progress in his recovery, but he is not expected to be ready for the upcoming trip to the south coast.
Cristhian Mosquera
Status:Β Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date:Β January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Like Calafiori, Mosquera is closing in on a return to action after missing over a month of action due to an ankle injury. However, the former Valencia defender will not be available for selection this weekend.
Max Dowman
Status:Β Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date:Β Unknown
Max Dowman is likely to be out until February after sustaining an ankle problem while playing for Arsenal Under-21s in last month’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United.
ARSENAL’S SUSPENSION LIST
Arsenal have no players suspended for the third-round tie.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal remain in the driving seat to clinch the Premier League title crown this season – and they could strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad to bolster their chances.
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Whether or not the right players are out there remains to be seen, but with Arteta enduring several injury blows already this season – particularly in defence – the manager will be keeping a close eye on potential targets.
The Gunners splashed the cash in the summer, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera to the Emirates Stadium – so a loan deal might favour the club
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There could also be high-profile exits, both loans and permanent deals, with young midfield talent Ethan Nwaneri linked with an exit. Other youngsters could also make loan moves to get a taste of first-team football.
With that said, football.london takes a closer look at all the moves completed by Arsenal so far this January.
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