The Premier League has announced its full schedule for the Christmas and New Year period, with Manchester United vs Newcastle the only game on Boxing Day.
The Premier League has officially unveiled its full fixture schedule for the critical Christmas and New Year period, confirming significant fixture alterations that impact Arsenal and their London rivals.
The decision to condense the traditional festive calendar was driven by increasing calendar congestion stemming from expanded UEFA competitions and a revamped FA Cup structure, as reported by football.london.
The revised calendar mandates a solitary match—Manchester United versus Newcastle United—on Boxing Day, December 26. To ensure broadcaster obligations are met, the remaining fixtures typically played on December 26 have been shifted to Saturday, December 27, and Sunday, December 28.
Arsenal’s specific festive itinerary is now fully confirmed. The Gunners are set to host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, December 27, with a traditional 3pm kick-off.
They will then feature in an evening televised slot on Tuesday, December 30, with a home clash against Aston Villa scheduled for 8:15pm, to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Looking ahead into the New Year, Mikel Arteta’s side faces a demanding trip for a 5:30pm kick-off against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, January 3. The challenging period concludes with a high-profile fixture against title rivals Liverpool on Thursday, January 8, scheduled for 8:00pm.
The reporting detailed the full list of broadcast times but did not include any direct quotes from club or league officials regarding the changes.