Arsenal have urged the Premier League to take their game away at Everton in the run-up to Christmas to be played a day earlier, as they look to avoid playing two matches in three days.
As understood, the Gunners have applied for the game, which is currently scheduled for Sunday, 21 December at 14:00, to be moved to Saturday, 20 December at 20:00 BST.
The Premier League leaders are scheduled to play their EFL Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace on 23 December.
The cup game was moved by the EFL from the original date of 16 December because that scenario would have seen Palace, who are competing in the Conference League in Europe, play three times in five days.
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Arsenal want to play the Everton game a day earlier to allow extra recovery time for Mikel Arteta’s players before they face Palace.
While Arsenal have made clear their preference for their first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium to be moved to Saturday, it is understood that is not the only potential date under consideration by the Premier League.
After the EFL changed the date for the cup quarter-final between the two London clubs, Arteta said: “Hopefully, they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn’t make any sense.
“So now, we decide the date (for the EFL Cup match). I am sure they will change the Premier League (match) as well.”
