Arsenal hope to move Everton fixture after Palace match set for 23 December

Premier league leaders face playing two matches in three days

EFL blames European schedule for ‘undermining’ Carabao Cup

Arsenal have called on the Premier League to rearrange their game against Everton after they were ordered to face Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on 23 December.

In a strongly worded statement that blamed the expanded European schedules for “undermining” the reputation of the competition, the EFL confirmed on Monday that it had accepted Palace’s request to push the game back a week from its original date of 16 December that would have left Oliver Glasner’s side facing three matches in five days. The FA Cup winners argued that it meant they would have 24 hours less to prepare for the tie due to their Conference League commitments, although Arsenal opposed the request and wanted the game to be played on its original date.