Crystal Palace have officially asked to move one of their December fixtures to allow more preparation time before their Carabao Cup meeting with Arsenal on 16 December. And while it’s Palace pushing the agenda, it’s Arsenal who should be paying just as much attention.
Why it matters to Arsenal
Palace want more space between games to sharpen up for their trip to the Emirates and that’s telling. Oliver Glasner knows his side will be in for one of their toughest tests of the season, and he’s already plotting ways to increase his side’s intensity and freshness. It shows respect but it also shows intent.
For Mikel Arteta, this is one more reason to ensure Arsenal’s own preparation is bulletproof. If Palace get their way, they’ll arrive in North London better rested, more tactically drilled, and likely with a point to prove.
Palace’s festive chaos
Five games in 11 days is the current stretch Palace are facing due to their Carabao Cup run and European schedule.
The club see the Arsenal game as a marquee moment, and the fixture list as a potential saboteur.
Moving one game would give them clearer space to prep, both physically and tactically.
What this means for Arsenal
This is the kind of micro-detail that top clubs are increasingly alert to. The margins are thin, and if your opponent gets an edge, even one rest day more, it can shift how a game plays out in the second half. Especially with how Palace like to press. A fresher Palace side may be able to press longer and higher, Arsenal’s midfield structure will need to be spot-on. This is Glasner telling his players this game matters. Arsenal need to mirror that mentality. Arteta must anticipate this and avoid rotation missteps in the preceding games, especially in midfield.
Author Opinion
Palace aren’t just trying to steal a day off, they’re setting a tone. They know Arsenal at the Emirates is a barometer fixture, and they want to arrive at full tilt.
From an Arsenal point of view, this is a cue: sharpen the tools early. Because if Palace get their way with the schedule, they’re not turning up to park the bus, they’re coming to cause problems.
Let them prepare. We’ll be ready.
