Mikel Arteta wants Premier League to intervene over Everton fixture after surprise announcement

Mikel Arteta has called on the Premier League to step in and potentially move Arsenal’s clash with Everton next month.

Everton face a busy December as they have six matches in the final month of the year, including a clash with Arsenal on Sunday 21.

There are still three games to be played in November, including Everton’s trip to Sunderland on Monday night, but fans will already be making travel plans for the Christmas period.

There is still a chance that the Arsenal game next month could be moved, though, if Gunners boss Arteta‘s wishes are granted.

A general shot of the outside of Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium
Credit: Imago

Mikel Arteta not happy with Crystal Palace fixture announcement

Arsenal have an even busier December than Everton given they are competing in two other competitions next month.

The Gunners have eight games in total, including an EFL Cup quarter-final with Crystal Palace, the date of which was confirmed on Monday in a surprise announcement.

Due to Palace being involved in Thursday night Europa Conference League fixtures, it has proved difficult finding an available date that suits both sides.

And so that match will now be sandwiched in on December 23, which is just two days after Arsenal are due to travel to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

That leaves Arsenal with just one day off between matches in a pretty unprecedented move, which Arteta is rightly unhappy about.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Monday, he made his thoughts clear.

“Hopefully they will move our Premier League match, because playing two days later doesn’t make sense,” Arteta told reporters.

Everton’s December fixtures in full

Arteta is a well-known figure among the Everton fanbase, of course, but Evertonians will not take kindly to this fixture being moved.

Plans are already no doubt in place for the 50,000-plus attending the game for the sell-out fixture, which comes just before Christmas.

The Hill Dickinson Stadium is already proving a real gem and it will host a few fixtures next month, with Brentford and Nottingham Forest also visiting.

FixtureDateVenue
Bournemouth2 DecemberHill Dickinson Stadium
Nottingham Forest6 DecemberHill Dickinson
Chelsea13 DecemberStamford Bridge
Arsenal21 DecemberHill Dickinson Stadium
Burnley27 DecemberCity Ground
Nottingham Forest30 DecemberCity Ground

There are also trips to Bournemouth, Chelsea, Burnley and Forest in a fairly quick space of time.

While moving the fixture may make sense for Arteta, it certainly does not for Everton. Let’s hope the Premier League see sense and side with the Toffees.

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