ARSENAL’S clash with Manchester City scheduled for October 19 has been postponed to create a date for the Gunners to play their Europa League tie against PSV Eindhoven.
The European match was initially scheduled for tomorrow night but was postponed due to a lack of police resources ahead of the Queen’s state funeral next Monday.
Uefa rules dictated that the Gunners had to find a new date to fulfil the fixture before the World Cup or forfeit the game.
Arsenal chiefs remained confident that it would not come to that, and have managed to squeeze the match in on October 20 by having their previously scheduled fixture against City called off.
The postponement avoids a problem with Uefa but is set to create even more fixture congestion further down the line.
Arsenal’s only other option would have been to move their League Cup clash with Brighton, currently scheduled for November 8.
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Their clash with PSV will now be slotted between a trip to Leeds on October 16 and a game against Southampton’s at St Mary’s on October 23.
Arsenal staged a minute’s silence at half-time of their clash against FC Zurich last week, when the news of Her Majesty’s passing aged 96 was announced.
Their subsequent fixture against Everton scheduled for last weekend was postponed, as British football came to a standstill.
Three more Prem games have been called off this weekend, but Arsenal’s trip to Brentford on Sunday WILL go ahead.
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Arsenal will now play matchdays three and four of their Europa League group stage campaign before matchday two.
The Gunners host Bodo/Glimt on October 6, before travelling to Norway for the return fixture a week later.
Mikel Arteta’s side won their Europa League opener in Zurich last Thursday, with goals by Marquinhos and Eddie Nketiah sealing a 2-1 triumph.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
