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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Why are Arsenal not playing in the Premier League this weekend?

Perfect timing: The fixture list has given Arsenal an extra few days to prepare for PSG - (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

All eyes are on the Champions League for Arsenal as they target an historic end to the season.

The Gunners have fallen short in the Premier League title race again and may have a fight on their hands to finish second for the third campaign in a row, but it could still prove to be an incredibly successful season.

Mikel Arteta’s side take on PSG in the semi-finals of the Champions League, with Arsenal now just three matches away from winning the competition for the first time.

The fixture list has been kind to the Gunners, who are not in action this weekend and therefore have more time than usual to prepare for their European showdown.

Why are Arsenal not playing this weekend?

Arsenal had been due to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, just a few days before they host PSG in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

However, the Eagles have reached the last-four of the FA Cup and so will be at Wembley this weekend, taking on Aston Villa.

That meant the league match with Arsenal had to be rescheduled and it was moved forward to Wednesday night, freeing up the calendar for the FA Cup semi-finals.

It has worked out well for Arsenal, giving them six days between the visit of Oliver Glasner’s side to north London and the clash with PSG at the Emirates Stadium next week.

The Gunners will then host Bournemouth on May 3, with Arteta potentially opting to rotate his side ahead of the trip to Paris for the second leg four days later.

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