Nine midweek fixtures will go ahead in the Premier League, but there is one glaring omission from the matchday schedule after Arsenal vs Manchester City was postponed.
Having claimed their fourth title in five seasons, City might have anticipated long-term rivals Liverpool to present the biggest threat to their crown once again. However, while the Reds did overcome Pep Guardiola and his squad at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, there appears to be another would-be contender in town.
Arsenal - with former City coach Mikel Arteta at the helm - have picked up 27 points from a possible 30 so far this campaign and currently lead the way. City are sitting four points adrift.
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Due to collide in a mouth-watering showdown over the coming days, City and the Gunners will instead be forced to wait for that game of the season contender. Here is everything you need to know about the postponement and when it could be rescheduled.
Why was Arsenal vs Man City postponed?
Following the Queen's death last month, the following Premier League matchday was cancelled while that global event also impacted Arsenal in their ongoing Europa League quest. Indeed, their match against PSV was cancelled and had to be accommodated, as priority, owing to UEFA regulations.
Arsenal risked forfeiting points when policing concerns forced them to postpone the original date (September 15) on the proviso they could not reschedule the game in time. But while the Gunners did consider and propose other options - such as reversing their away fixture with PSV - this was ultimately not possible.
Following talks with the Premier League and European body, a new date was settled (October 20) and this meant that the domestic showdown against City had to be put back. Nine other games will take place across the division as Guardiola's men are handed some rest-time.
When will Arsenal vs Man City be scheduled?
Now this is where the potential complications arise. A revised date is due to be confirmed by the Premier League, but clubs are soon to put their domestic charges to one side as players head away on World Cup duty next month, before top-flight action resumes on Boxing Day.
With fixtures coming thick and fast before the World Cup gets underway on November 20, it is almost impossible for a date to be sorted before then. Looking ahead, both clubs still have European matters to deal with and they're yet to begin their respective Carabao Cup and FA Cup campaigns, either.
A revised date in early 2023 appears most likely.
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