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The festive fixture season often causes stress for the biggest teams in the Premier League, with matches played thick and fast across a number of different competitions.
League play, cup action, and European competition can often combine to create a logjam of matches that can rack up minutes for those who are forced to repeatedly take the field.
That is the case with the match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace in the 2025/26 Carabao Cup quarterfinals, which did not take place alongside the other fixtures across the round.
The Sporting News explains why the game was moved back, when it will be played, and how the rest of the competition shapes up.
MORE: Carabao Cup round dates, schedule, fixtures, and draw information for the 2025/26 season
When is Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace Carabao Cup game?
Despite the Carabao Cup quarterfinal matches mostly taking place December 16 and 17, the match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace did not happen alongside the other three fixtures.
Instead, the match will be played at Emirates Stadium on December 23, just two days before Christmas.
After a lengthy delay, the kickoff time was eventually confirmed as 8 p.m. local time in London (3 p.m. ET).
Why was the Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace match moved?
Due to a mess of fixture congestion, and concerns from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, the match had to be moved until later this month.
Palace could not complete the schedule as regularly constructed, as it would have seen them play three games in five days. The Eagles were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City on Sunday, December 14, and then played Finnish club KuPS in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, December 18.
Adding a third match to that short turnaround would have placed unreasonable demands on the players and staff.
Arsenal also have a congested schedule, albeit a more forgiving one than Palace. They defeated Wolves 2-1 on Saturday, December 13, and had a Premier League fixture against Everton on Saturday, December 20. A third match in a seven-day stretch, while daunting, is not unheard of at the top levels of European football.
In November, Arteta urged the Premier League to move the Gunners' game against Everton from December 21 to December 20 due to the cup game against Palace. The Eagles' match against Leeds was also moved up a day to December 20, even though this reduces their recovery time following the KuPS fixture.
Carabao Cup quarterfinal match schedule
Defending champions Newcastle are still amongst the remaining participants and defeated Fulham in their quarterfinal.
Three of the other teams in the last eight (Fulham, Brentford, and Crystal Palace) have never made the final, while Cardiff City have reached the final previously but never lifted the trophy.
Tuesday, December 16
- Cardiff City 1-3 Chelsea (3 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, December 17
- Man City 2-0 Brentford (2:30 p.m. ET)
- Newcastle 2-1 Fulham (3:15 p.m. ET)
Tuesday, December 23
- Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace (3 p.m. ET)
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