Why is EFL Cup quarter-final a fixture headache?

"Every decision that we make in terms of a fixture has to be guided on two main things I think - player welfare and then supporters, that's it," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Friday as discussions continue to find a date for their EFL Cup quarter-final at home to Crystal Palace.

But such is the complexity of the situation, it's not going to be possible to satisfy both players and fans.

Arsenal's preference is for the game to be played on Tuesday, 16 December. You can understand why, as it means they keep to a regular schedule of Saturday-Tuesday-Sunday and then have a week off before the Christmas schedule begins.

That's perfect for the Gunners, but not for their opponents. If Palace are told to play on the 16th, that means three games in five days, or four in eight, or five in 11.

So why are we in this position, and why are the possible options and solutions so problematic?

Uefa's European calendar now stretches across 10 midweeks, rather than the six as it did two seasons ago, with the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League each given a standalone week for exposure.

It has caused a huge logistical headache, with the third round of the EFL Cup having to be seeded and played across two weeks to keep clubs in the Champions League and Europa League apart.

That was a pretty straightforward fix, but with the Conference League held on consecutive weeks in December, with the final round of games muscling into the regular slot for the EFL Cup quarter-finals, it was a matter of when, not if, a Premier League club had to play two competitions at the same time.

There was a narrow escape last season, with Chelsea losing at Newcastle United in the fourth round. This time, the EFL hasn't got away with it.

There's precedent for playing two games in one midweek in recent seasons, involving Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, but it's not exactly putting player welfare front and centre. In July, player representatives and Fifa agreed there should be a minimum rest period of 72 hours between matches.

Even if Palace can successfully argue against playing on the 16th, which remains the most likely date, there's no solution to please everyone.

Picking Tuesday, 23 December will mean both Arsenal and Palace only get 48 hours after their Premier League games on the previous Sunday, with the Gunners at Everton and Palace visiting Leeds.

Arsenal may well feel that they shouldn't have to give up their week off due to a situation which isn't of their making. Palace will say it's the fairest outcome, as both clubs will go into the cup tie facing the same problem of short-term fatigue.

Christmas Eve - Wednesday, 24 December - has also been mooted, but with London's transport system beginning to close down after 7pm it would be impossible to play an evening game with 60,000 fans at the Emirates. And that means playing during the afternoon, which is technically a working day, and it would probably have to kick-off by 4pm at the latest. It's not a solution that in any way caters for supporters.

Wolves and Chelsea were forced to play on Christmas Eve in 2023 - the first time a top-flight game had been scheduled on that day for 28 years. It caused huge controversy, but at least it was on a Sunday with a 1pm kick-off.

Playing in the Christmas week has a knock-on effect too. The Premier League schedule for the period should have been published on 15 October, but two weeks on there's still no sign of fans being able to plot their festive football plans.

The Premier League, which has indicated two games won't be moved to later in the season to facilitate the EFL Cup fixture, says the delay has nothing to do with Palace, but it might yet have to be considered.

This season, gameweek 18 is scheduled for Saturday, 27 December, but at least one match will move to Boxing Day when the television dates are finally announced.

Palace's home game with Tottenham has been suggested as the possible pick, and that would only further pack the schedule for Oliver Glasner's side and make 23 December, and definitely Christmas Eve, problematic.

Someone is going to be affected whichever day is chosen, be it players or fans.

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