Arsenal and FC Zurich fans travelling for the Europa League clash at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, November 3 could be impacted by the upcoming planned rail strikes.
The Gunners' last Europa League group stage match will be against the Swiss outfit just weeks before club football is suspended for the World Cup in Qatar. Mikel Arteta's side have already secured qualification for the knockout rounds after beating PSV 1-0 last night (Thursday) meaning the Spaniard can rotate his side ahead of the EFL third round tie against Brighton and keep his players fresh as they look to stay top of the Premier League heading into the winter break.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are continuing to stage further action in ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions, with more strikes set to take place on November 3rd, 5th and 7th. This will likely see supporters be impacted on the day of the Europa League clash with the action by staff at the train operating companies coinciding with strikes on the same days by RMT members on Network Rail, London Underground and London Overground.
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The RMT confirmed strike action will take place at the start of November in a statement on their website. The statement read: "RMT to take coordinated strike action after Network Rail performs U-turn on pay offer.
"Rail union RMT will take 3 days of coordinated strike action next month after Network Rail attempted to impose drastic changes in working practices on their staff. Following intense negotiations with RMT, there was an agreement where the company would commit to an improved offer on pay and working towards a negotiated settlement.
"However, in a dramatic U-turn, Network Rail bosses reneged on their promises of an improved pay offer and sought to impose job cuts, more unsocial hours and detrimental changes to rosters. In a crass attempt to cut the union out of national negotiations, Network Rail have written directly to staff undermining delicate talks and have tried to rehash a previous deal that RMT has categorically rejected.
"Strikes on Network Rail will now take place on November 3, 5 and 7. In separate disputes on London Underground and Overground networks (Arriva Rail London), RMT members will take strike action on November 3."
There is likely to be major disruption for many travelling fans in and out of London for the Europa League clash, though Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham are likely to avoid being impacted the following weekend as all clubs play their Premier League fixtures on Sunday, November 6.
The Gunners take on the Blues at Stamford Bridge in a huge London derby, whilst Spurs take on Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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