Arsenal fans were left fuming as UWCL fixture against Bayern Munich was booted out of Emirates Stadium to make way for men's Carabao Cup tie.
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Crystal Palace to face Arsenal on December 18Women's team also playing at the same time in UWCLFans angered after women's fixture was relocatedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Carabao Cup clash, pitting Mikel Arteta's Arsenal against Palace’s Oliver Glasner-led team, is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. on December 18 at the Emirates. This creates a conflict with the UWCL match between Arsenal Women and Bayern Munich, which was slated to start later that same evening. Given the need to accommodate both matches and the limited time for stadium preparations, Arsenal’s women’s team may need to relocate to Meadow Park – which does not meet UEFA's standard requirements to host a continental fixture.
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The change has left several Arsenal fans angry and they vented their disgust on social media.
An Arsenal fan, @puckinghell_, wrote: "This is a joke, means Arsenal WFC v. Bayern, a *champions league* fixture that's been in the diary for months is being moved last minute for a carabao cup match 🫠."
While, @arsenaljoe_, said: "Really disappointing that the women’s game against Bayern has been shifted for this."
@catsfootball_ tweeted: "The EFL Cup against Palace having more power than the women’s champions league game against Bayern is crazy btw."
Another fan, @br14njk, wrote: "One Club….? I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed 😔."
Whereas, @awfcdreamer wrote: "NICE so you're just going to kick the women out of the ems when tickets have been on sale for months."
@reveaIism was also disgusted and wrote: "I kind of heavily dislike the fact that the women's UCL match is getting f*cked for this. I know this was a logistical nightmare and someone was gonna get the short end of the stick i'm just annoyed that the match scheduled first is getting moved."
While @ems_022 wrote: "Champions League game was scheduled first and in general should simply take priority. MP doesn't meet UEFA requirements and it is also the last group game, so I'm pretty sure it has to be played at the same time as the other Group C game. How is that going to work? JOKE."
WHAT ARSENAL SAID
Arsenal have responded quickly to the scheduling dilemma, issuing a statement to reassure fans and clarify their next steps.
It read: "The EFL have confirmed the date for our Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Crystal Palace. The Eagles will head to Emirates Stadium in the last eight of the competition on Wednesday, December 18, with kick-off at 7.30 pm. We are liaising with UEFA, and further details regarding our UEFA Women’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich will be announced in due course."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
This UWCL fixture is crucial for Arsenal Women, marking their last Group C match, with significant stakes attached as they aim to progress to the knockout stages. Both teams previously faced each other in their opening group game, where the German outfit came out on top with a decisive 5-2 victory.