Arsenal Set to Miss 19 Days of Football Action Due to FA Cup Quarter Final Games

Arsenal Set to Miss 19 Days of Football Action Due to FA Cup Quarter Final Games

Rene Otinga
updated at March 1, 2024 at 7:00 AM
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  • The FA Cup’s final eight was confirmed on Wednesday, February 28
  • Six of the teams in the quarter-final are sides in the Premier League
  • Arsenal will be out of football action for 19 days due to the FA Cup

The Premier League title race could come down to an unexpected factor - the FA Cup.

Two of the 2023/24 top-flight title contenders are still in the cup competition, with the quarter-final ties confirmed on Wednesday, February 28.

Arsenal's Premier League title bid could be affected by their 19-day break from football action due to the FA Cup.
Arsenal's Premier League title bid could be affected by their 19-day break from football action due to the FA Cup. Photo: Stuart MacFarlane.
Source: Getty Images

Manchester City face Newcastle United, while Chelsea will host Leicester City.

Wolves will face Coventry, while the hottest game of the bunch is arguably the Manchester United versus Liverpool game.

When are the FA Cup quarter-finals?

The quarter-final ties will be played on the weekend of March 16 and 17.

Six top flight teams were meant to be in league action that weekend, but the fact that six Premier League teams are in England’s oldest competition means those fixtures will have to be postponed.

This could have serious ramifications for Liverpool and Manchester City, who will face each other on March 10.

Arsenal’s 19-day FA Cup gap

Arsenal is also set to suffer, despite not competing in the FA Cup. The Gunners, who were set to face Chelsea on the weekend of March 16/17, will also see their game postponed.

Mikel Arteta’s side play Sheffield United on Monday, March 4, and this will be followed by a London derby against Brentford five days later on March 9, per the club's website.

Three days later, they will attempt to overturn their 1-0 deficit against FC Porto in the Champions League, and will not be in action again until March 31, when they face Manc City in a potential title decider.

There is a 19-day gap between Arsenal’s games against Porto and Man City, which could be an advantage or a disadvantage for Arteta’s men, depending on how you look at it.

On one hand, they will have plenty of time to prepare to face the Citizens, but not playing for 19 days could take away the team’s sharpness.

All the postponed matches in the Premier League:

Chelsea v Tottenham

Arsenal vs Chelsea

Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United

Manchester United vs Sheffield United

Wolves vs Bournemouth

Everton vs Liverpool

Brighton vs Manchester City.

FA Cup's most successful managers

Sports Brief also previously reported on the most successful managers in the 153-year history of the FA Cup.

With 14 trophy wins, Arsenal are the most successful team in what is the world's oldest football tournament.

Authors
Rene Otinga photo
Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.