Arsenal’s Premier League match against Manchester City has been postponed to accommodate the Gunners’ rearranged Europa League tie with PSV Eindhoven.
The Gunners had been due to face PSV on Thursday but the game was put back amid a shortage of police officers during the lead-up to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
With the Europa League group stage required to end before the World Cup, and with no matchdays free in an already packed schedule, the Premier League has confirmed the sacrifice of Arsenal’s game against City on October 19.
No new date has been confirmed for the game at the Emirates Stadium, which is set to now take place in the new year after the World Cup.
A statement on Wednesday morning confirmed: “The Premier League has agreed with UEFA to postpone Arsenal’s Premier League match with Manchester City, originally due to be played on 19 October, to allow for Arsenal's rearranged Europa League game with PSV Eindhoven.
“Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven, originally scheduled to be played on Thursday 15 September, will now be played on Thursday 20 October, 6pm.
“A new date for the Arsenal vs Manchester City fixture will be announced in due course.”
After last weekend’s games were postponed across the footballing pyramid, Arsenal’s rearranged European tie was joined by three Premier League games, including Chelsea versus Liverpool, being called off for this weekend. No dates have been given for those matches as yet.
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust hit out at the new kick-off time, tweeting: “Good to see this issue resolved but a 6pm kick off is really poor for the match going fans. Demonstrates how broadcasters are put before interests of supporters.
“It should really be an 8pm kick-off. But we are used to the interests of broadcasters overriding the interests of 60,000 match going fans.”
