Arsenal will face PSV on October 20th instead of Manchester City the day prior, as UEFA and the Premier League organised a switch of fixtures to fulfil Europa League requirements. Concern grew when the match that was supposed to go ahead this week was scrapped due to policing issues.
Arsenal had been confident that a solution would be found and would not need them to forfeit the clash. This has now been agreed and the Gunners could well welcome the idea of facing their Europa League opponents between EPL matches with Leeds and Southampton.
However, like the Everton match, the City game is expected to be pushed into 2023 with no available slots prior to the World Cup. This creates quite the predicament for Arsenal should their season have something of a perfect run.
READ MORE: Why Arsenal had Europa League home and away legs switched before amid PSV postponement fears
If Arsenal were to reach the finals of the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League, they would face the prospect of playing 44 games in a 24-week period. From December 19th to May 31st, it would represent a game being played more than once every four days until the end of the season.
The likelihood of the club reaching the final of three cup competitions is very small. But even making the latter stages would add serious strain on the Arsenal squad.
The Arsenal squad has already suffered injuries this season and the club felt their business was not completed in the summer. A deadline day move for Douglas Luiz and interest in both Pedro Neto and Mykhaylo Mudryk was evidence that Edu and Mikel Arteta wanted further reinforcement.
Arteta described his team as being "short" after Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny were sidelined. Whilst after a 3-0 win over Bournemouth, the Spaniard said he wanted more "firepower" to be added before the window closed.
Arsenal might have the relief of the January transfer window to find a reprieve, but the club has been strong on the idea of not signing players simply for numbers. Instead, they are committed to purely signing quality for a price they deem cost-effective.
A task which the winter window rarely throws up opportunities of this nature. Hence why the club opted in January of this year not to bring anyone in, to many people’s surprise.
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