Fixture clash sparks Arsenal-Crystal Palace Carabao Cup dispute

The Gunners are due to host Palace on 16 December, but the South London club are pushing for the game to be postponed due to their congested fixture list.

Oliver Glasner's side are set to face Manchester City in the Premier League on 14 December and KuPS in the Europa Conference League on 18 December, meaning they would play three games in five days if the quarter-final remains as scheduled.

Palace have proposed moving the fixture to the following week, potentially 23 December, with Christmas Eve also being considered. However, Arsenal are understood to want the game to remain on its original date.

Arteta has made it clear he believes altering the schedule would be unfair. "I don't think that is fair because we have other competitions as well," the Spaniard said. "We knew at the start of the season which competitions each club would be playing in, so we have to try to balance things in the best possible way for everyone."

The Arsenal manager also underlined the importance of protecting players and fans amid growing concern about fixture congestion. "Every decision that we make in terms of a fixture has to be guided by two main things, I think: players' welfare and then supporters, that's it. If we look after those two, we will never reach a point where players think about striking," he said.

Arteta's side are currently enduring a demanding run of seven matches in 22 days, and they will travel to Burnley on Saturday looking to extend their four-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal reached the last eight of the Carabao Cup after beating Brighton 2-0 at the Emirates on Wednesday, their eighth consecutive win in all competitions. William Saliba missed that match but could return for the weekend trip to Turf Moor, while Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz remain out injured.

The Gunners hope the quartet, including Havertz, who has been sidelined since the opening weekend, will be fit for the north London derby against Tottenham on 23 November.

Fixture congestion continues to dominate debate across English football, with Manchester City's Rodri warning last season that players could strike if demands keep rising. Arteta's latest comments highlight growing frustration among top managers over the relentless calendar.