The long Carabao Cup quarter-finals come to an end tonight as Arsenal host Crystal Palace.
Oddly, this game at the Emirates Stadium takes place six days after the semi-final draw, while all three of the other eight fixtures had been concluded last week.
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However, this was not the original plan. Arsenal’s visit to Crystal Palace was due to coincide with the remainder of last Tuesday’s quarter-finals, but a backlog in the schedule resulted in the game being rescheduled.
Crystal Palace face the somewhat absurd prospect of playing four games in eight days in mid-December – hosting Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday 14 December, followed by a Carabao Cup tie with the Gunners on Tuesday 16 December, a League One tie with Finnish side KuPS two days later and then a league match against Leeds United on Sunday 21 December to cap off a hell of a week.
Eagles coach Oliver Glasner has laid out the proposed schedule and claimed it would hurt his players.
“It’s dangerous and irresponsible to say you should play on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday,” Glasner fumed.
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Even Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta agreed, saying there were “better options” than that date.
Crystal Palace were given a bit of a reprieve, with the quarter-finals moved to Tuesday 23 December.
It means Palace face the slightly more manageable prospect of four games in 10 days and will enjoy a five-day break after the Gunners game before facing Tottenham Hotspur on December 28.
Carabao Cup tie between Arsenal and Crystal Palace must be rescheduled (Getty Images)
Still, the quarter-finals are the sides’ second games in three days, with Arsenal and Crystal Palace facing Everton and Leeds United respectively on Sunday.
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The schedule change has not had a positive impact on Crystal Palace’s results, with Palace losing two league clashes with Manchester City and Leeds United in the past nine days and also drawing with KuPS, missing out on a top-eight finish and therefore automatic promotion to the last 16 of the Western Conference.
Arsenal, meanwhile, recaptured their magic with a must-win win at Hill Dickinson Stadium at the weekend, with two own goals saving them from embarrassment against bottom side Wolves.
Arteta and Glasner go into tonight’s game at the Emirates Stadium knowing the road to Wembley lies ahead, with a two-legged semi-final with Chelsea awaiting the winner. Newcastle and Manchester City will face off on the other side of the new year’s draw.
The match will kick off at 8pm GMT and will be shown live on Sky Sports and ITV in the UK.