Arsenal are set to face a three-week break from football due to an upcoming clash with Chelsea set to be rescheduled.
The Gunners were scheduled to play against their London rivals in the Premier League during the weekend of March 16/17.
However, the anticipated Emirates showdown will need to be rescheduled, resulting in a substantial gap between matches for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Chelsea secured their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 3-2 victory over Leeds United, setting up a clash against Leicester City in the last eight.
Unfortunately, the cup quarter-finals coincide with the initially scheduled weekend for the Arsenal-Chelsea encounter.
As a result, Premier League authorities will need to find an alternative date for the London derby, leaving the Gunners without a fixture for a period of 19 days.
When Will The Rescheduled Arsenal vs Chelsea Match Be Played?
It isn’t officially known when the Arsenal vs Chelsea match will be played following its rescheduling.
However, it is likely that it will be played midweek in the week commencing April 22. This would fall between Arsenal’s away fixtures against Wolves and Tottenham.
For now, the Gunners are set to face Porto in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on March 12, aiming to reverse a 1-0 deficit following Galeno’s late strike in the previous week.
They will then enjoy a free weekend before the international break before returning for a high-stakes Premier League clash away at Manchester City.
As they await confirmation of the rescheduled date against Chelsea, Arteta will undoubtedly be planning for the extended break, and hoping for a similar impact that the winter break in Dubai appeared to have on their form.
Arsenal’s April Fixture Reshuffling
In addition to the Chelsea match, three of Arsenal’s April matches have undergone changes in kick-off times due to television scheduling.
The home fixture against Luton Town has been shifted to 7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 3, and will be broadcast on TNT Sports.
The Gunners will then feature in Sky Sports‘ 5:30pm Saturday slot for two consecutive weekends, with a visit to Brighton on April 6 before hosting fourth-placed Aston Villa on April 13.
These two games could flank a Champions League quarter-final for Arsenal, provided they successfully navigate past Porto.
However, Arsenal’s match against Villa could be rescheduled to a Sunday fixture if Unai Emery’s team progresses past Ajax and into the next round of the UEFA Conference League.
In total, Arsenal could play up to nine fixtures in total in April, setting up a crucial month for Arteta’s side in their quest for major silverware.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
