Arsenal is facing a tricky situation with a clash in their schedule involving the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the men’s Carabao Cup. The women’s team is set to play Bayern Munich on December 18 at Emirates Stadium, just 24 hours after the men’s team is scheduled to face Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
The problem arises due to the tight schedule of cup competitions along with the Premier League fixtures. Crystal Palace has a game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday, December 16, which rules out playing the cup tie on the following Tuesday. Additionally, Arsenal and Crystal Palace are set to play each other again on Saturday, December 21, leaving no room for the cup match to be played on Thursday or Friday.
The only available option for the cup tie would be on Wednesday night, the same day the women’s team is supposed to host Bayern Munich in the Women’s Champions League. Unfortunately, the women’s match cannot be moved to Meadow Park due to stadium regulations set by UEFA.
This scheduling conflict is not an isolated incident in women’s football, as Chelsea and Manchester United previously had a Women’s Super League game postponed due to similar Champions League conflicts. The responsibility for this current clash falls on the EFL, as Arsenal had already announced that all their Women’s Champions League group-stage games would be played at Emirates Stadium.
The issue highlights the ongoing challenges in scheduling women’s football matches and the need for better coordination between different leagues and competitions. It is essential for all stakeholders to work together to ensure a smoother and more efficient scheduling process in the future. Arsenal will be hoping for a resolution that allows both their men’s and women’s teams to compete without any disruptions to their fixtures.
