Arsenal will face a tricky run-up to Christmas with two matches in the space of three days after receiving a date for their Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace.
The Gunners, who sit top of the table six points clear of their closest rivals Manchester City, are due to play their London rivals on the day before Christmas Eve after their request for more breathing room in the fixtures calendar was turned down.
The match will take place at the Emirates on December 23 at 8pm, with just hours to go until the start of the festive period, rather than on December 16, the date the club preferred.
That gives Arteta’s men scant time to prepare for their cup tie, facing Everton on December 21 at 2pm, at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium.
Palace are due to suffer similar fixture congestion, as Oliver Glasner & Co also play on that day, with the same kick-off time against Leeds, at Elland Road.
But the south London side were uneasy about playing the fixture earlier that month, as it would have given them an even greater headache, coming in the midst of two games already scheduled in a four-and-a-half day period.
Arsenal have had their request to play Crystal Palace in mid-December turned down
Palace are due to play a Premier League match against Manchester City on December 14, and then face European opposition playing Finnish side Kuopion Palloseura in the Conference League on December 18.
Arsenal and Palace have already met once this season as Eberechi Eze made it a triumphant reunion with his former side by supplying the only goal in the 1-0 home win.
Last season, the London clubs met at the same stage of the domestic competition, with Arsenal claiming victory before their defeat to eventual winners Newcastle in the semi-finals
