Arsenal are reportedly confident that they will not have to forfeit their Europa League Group A match against PSV Eindhoven as they try to find a new date.
The Gunners began their new continental season last week with a 2-1 win over FC Zurich, thanks to goals from Eddie Nketiah and 19-year-old debutant Marquinhos.
Prior to the second half, players and supporters at the Kybunpark learned of Queen Elizabeth II’s death at the age of 96, and a minute’s silence was observed following the interval.
As a sign of respect, Premier League games and a slew of other fixtures at the elite and grassroots levels were postponed over the weekend .The football calendar will become even more crowded in the aftermath of further cancellations.
The Queen’s state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey on September 19, and a large police presence will be needed in London in the days running up to Her Majesty’s departure.
Due to a lack of police resources, Arsenal’s home match against PSV, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday at the Emirates, has been rescheduled for a later date.
UEFA is unwilling to bend on their stance that the game must be rescheduled at a date before the end of the group stage, but the Gunners are already facing a congested schedule ahead of the mid-season break for the World Cup in Qatar.
Will Arsenal Forfeit PSV Eindhoven Clash?
However, the Evening Standard says that Arsenal are confident of finding a replacement date for the game and do not anticipate having to forfeit the game, like Tottenham Hotspur did last year.
Antonio Conte’s side famously had to cancel a match against Rennes due to a COVID-19 outbreak, and the Ligue 1 side was handed the points, but Arsenal do not expect the same consequence.
Mikel Arteta’s side is said to have been keen to play on Thursday, but the game could not be moved to the Philips Stadion or played behind closed doors.
According to the report, Arsenal executives are still in contact with the relevant authorities, although one of their other domestic matches will probably need to be moved.
Manchester City are scheduled to visit the Emirates in the Premier League on Wednesday, October 19, and Arsenal may want to reschedule that game for their match against PSV.
Alternatively, the Gunners’ EFL Cup third-round match against Brighton & Hove Albion, slated for the week of November 7, might be rescheduled.
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The final group-stage matchups in the 2022-23 Europa League will be played on November 3, however UEFA has reportedly discussed allowing Arsenal and PSV to play their match in January.
The knockout round playoffs will be drawn on November 7, and those games will be played in February 2023, before the last-16 begins one month later.
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