Why Arsenal’s clash with Brentford was moved as Liverpool handed potential title boost

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Arsenal are back in Premier League action again as they look to string together more victories in the hunt for the title.

The Gunners managed to reclaim second in the division after consecutive wins against Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town.

They will be looking to add another three points to the board when they take on Brentford next up, while rivals Liverpool face West Ham in the Premier League.

There is, however, a strange quirk in the fixture schedule that may raise a few eyebrows in the Arsenal camp over the coming week though.

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Why are Arsenal not playing today?

The upcoming Premier League fixture will have something of a strange schedule to it, not least for Arsenal of all teams.

The majority of matches coming up will be played on Sunday, December 29, while a few others are scheduled for Monday, December 30.

Bizarrely though, the Gunners will feature a few days later on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.

The reason is a move in the fixture schedule for broadcasting, with TNT Sports showing the game on New Year’s Day.

It may be a move that could be costly for Arsenal in the Premier League title race, with Liverpool given a chance to extend their lead first.

On top of that, Mikel Arteta may be left frustrated with another part of the move involving the following matches.

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Arsenal handed fixture nightmare with Brentford and Brighton matches

Unfortunately for Arsenal, a later match against Brentford means less rest before they face Brighton on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

The Seagulls play their match on Monday, December 30, giving them four days of rest before facing the Gunners.

It could be an advantage that helps Brighton more than Arsenal, with few slip-ups left for the side in the title race.

If Liverpool can keep winning and the Gunners face a tricky few results ahead, then it could end the battle there and then.

With Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League games ahead this January, it’s a tough period to navigate.

Mikel Arteta will have to make full use of his squad if he wants to get the best results possible out of the upcoming run.