Why are Arsenal playing in the Europa League this week? Premier League schedule, Man City postponement explained

After Manchester City’s surprise defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, Arsenal could have put more distance between themselves and the reigning champions on Wednesday during Pep Guardiola’s planned visit to the Gunners.

Arsenal’s perfect home record this season would have seen the toughest test yet against the likes of runaway Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland, but the game will not take place as originally planned.

All other Premier League teams will play on a full matchday 12 as Amazon Prime airs its first matches of the 2022/23 season.

Why won’t the match take place, when could it happen and when will City and Arsenal play in the Premier League next?

MORE: Andy Robertson: Liverpool ‘brilliant’ against Man City but it won’t mean anything without Premier League consistency

Why are Arsenal playing in the Europa League this week?

Arsenal was scheduled to host the Dutch PSV in the Europa League group stage on September 15, but the match was postponed at short notice due to concerns about police in London shortly before Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

Europa League organizer UEFA reached an agreement with the Premier League that the match would be moved at the expense of the Premier League match.

🗓 Match list update

U.S @EuropaLeague collide with @PSV has been rescheduled.

In turn, our @Eredivisie fixture with @ManCity has been delayed.

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 14, 2022

The Europa League schedule is tight to accommodate all group stage matches before the 2022 World Cup break in Qatar in mid-November.

Due to the postponement, Arsenal and PSV have had three Europa League games this season, while the other two teams in Group A, Bodo/Glimt and FC Zurich, have played four games each.

If they beat PSV – currently second in the Dutch Eredivisie – Arsenal will be five points ahead of the pack with two group stage matches remaining.

When can Arsenal vs. Man City to be moved to?

Premier League planners already had an unenviable task of housing games around a six-week gap before the World Cup.

The weekend of January 17th is the next available slot where the game can take place, with the weekend of February 7th also a possibility. The weekend after that has potential, as Arsenal are free if they win their Europa League group.

When is Arsenal’s next Premier League game?

Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday, when they expect to continue their winning run against Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s side defeated Southampton 3-0 at home last season, although Saints defeated them 1-0 in the reverse match at St Mary’s in April.