Aston Villa has expressed concerns regarding the December fixture scheduling in the Premier League. As they prepare for their second away match in London within four days, the club has sought clarification from the Premier League about this arrangement. Notably, other teams enjoy the advantage of consecutive home games during this period.
Aston Villa’s Fixture Concerns
Currently, Villa is set to play against Arsenal, the league leaders, on Tuesday. They faced Arsenal earlier this month at Villa Park on December 6. Following this encounter, Villa will meet Nottingham Forest, a team they have not yet played in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, the Nottingham Forest match will take place on Saturday, at Villa Park.
Club’s Reactions
Damian Vidagany, Villa’s director of football operations, noted the lack of a “clear explanation” regarding the scheduling issue. The Premier League usually maintains regular communication with clubs about fixture arrangements throughout the season. However, Villa’s situation seems particularly challenging.
Premier League Scheduling Overview
The fixtures have been structured to ensure each club has a home game during either gameweek 18 (Christmas fixtures from December 26 to 28) or gameweek 20 (New Year fixtures on January 3 and 4). This season, several clubs are encountering back-to-back away games between gameweeks 18 and 19, which occur from December 26 to January 1. Aston Villa is among those, alongside Newcastle United, Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brighton, Everton, Leeds United, and Tottenham.
Manager’s Perspective
Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s manager, also voiced his confusion about the fixture arrangement. Despite expressing frustration, he emphasized that acceptance is essential, as the scheduling decisions are out of their control. “We must accept it, because it is not in our hands,” he said during a pre-match press conference.
Aston Villa’s Current Standing
As it stands, Aston Villa is in third place in the Premier League, trailing leaders Arsenal by three points. The peculiar scheduling of successive matches against top teams poses a significant challenge for the squad. The club hopes for a more balanced approach in future fixture arrangements to enhance recovery and performance during this busy holiday period.
