No go: The Gunners clash with West Ham at the Emirates
must be rescheduled
Arsene Wenger has finally had his wish for a
winter break granted... by London’s striking Tube
drivers.
The Arsenal manager has long been a vocal supporter of the
Barclays Premier League taking a mid-winter break like the top
leagues in Spain, France, Italy and Germany.
Arsenal's match at home to West Ham on Boxing Day has been
postponed due to industrial action on the London Underground,
meaning they will not play a match for an entire week over the
usually hectic festive period.
Happy holidays: Wenger will be delighted with Arsenal's
seven-day break, but Fergie (right) is sure to be furious that
United have to play three times in six days
Wenger's side will not kick a ball for seven days
after their trip to Wigan on Saturday until they host Newcastle in
the evening kick-off on December 29.
Manchester United, meanwhile, will play three times in
seven days facing a trip to Swansea (December 23), a home game
against Newcastle (Boxing Day) and another home match against West
Brom (December 29).
The Arsenal manager's call for a mid-winter break has
become an annual tradition. Last month, he even suggested moving
the season to be played January to November.
He said: 'I understand it looks completely strange as
people have been educated the current way but I moved to Japan and
the season was in January to November. We started training in
January and after a while it was completely normal.
'The period of rest would be the same. It wouldn’t change
the number of games. You would not be confronted with these
situations when players are playing in two different championships.
You would play during the summer period in the best period for
football to be played.
In 2011, Wenger said: 'I think after that [the Christmas
break] you would like a little breather. I would like a winter
break but after Christmas. Create a break after 2 January for two
weeks. We can go on holiday for one week and prepare for one
week.'
Arsenal now have a week off over the manic Christmas
period thanks to the Tub strike. By contrast, Manchester United
must play four fixtures in 10 days. Here are the two clubs' holiday
season fixtures...
Arsenal Xmas
Fixtures:
Wigan v Arsenal
Sat 22 Dec, 12.45pm
Arsenal v West
Ham
Wed 26 Dec, 3pm -
POSTPONED
Arsenal v Newcastle
Sat 29 Dec, 5.30pm
Southampton v Arsenal
Tue 1 Jan, 5.30pm
United Xmas
Fixtures:
Swansea v Man Utd
Sun 23 Dec, 1.30pm
Man Utd v Newcastle
Wed 26 Dec, 3pm
Man Utd v West Brom
Sat 29 Dec, 3pm
Wigan v Man Utd
Tue 1 Jan, 3pm
Arsenal have postponed their Boxing Day clash with West Ham
until the new year due to the proposed London Underground
strike.
The club said they spoke with several agencies before
making the decision, including the Metropolitan Police, Transport
for London, London Underground, the Premier League, West Ham and
Islington Council.
Tickets already purchased for this match are still valid
for the rearranged date. Arsenal confirmed that this will be played
on either Wednesday, January 23 (kick off 7.45pm) or Saturday,
January 26 (kick off 3pm).
The date is dependent on the results in the FA Cup third
round, which is being played on the weekend of Saturday, January 5
and Sunday, January 6. West Ham host Manchester United while
Arsenal travel to Swansea.
A club statement read: 'The paramount concern was always
the duty of care towards the Arsenal supporters, West Ham United
supporters, matchday employees and workers and indeed everyone who
was planning to attend the game on Boxing Day.
'In addition to the proposed industrial action on London
Underground on Boxing Day, there are extremely limited services
operating on National Rail train services into London on this day.
Also, normal parking restrictions close to the stadium still apply.
This would have caused severe disruption, or at worst, inability
for supporters or matchday employees and workers to get to Emirates
Stadium.
Christmas cheer? Arsenal now have an extra day to
prepare for Newcastle
'We apologise for the inconvenience this may have
caused supporters but we feel that the right decision has been
made.'
Arsenal's 60,000-seater ground is five minutes' walk from
Holloway Road station in north London, with Highbury and Islington
and Finsbury Park also close by. Many fans use the service to get
to games so a suspension would have caused chaos if the match had
gone ahead.
A strike by Tube drivers last year forced Arsenal to delay
their Boxing Day match with Wolves by 24 hours but they cannot do
the same this year as they have a game against Newcastle on
December 29.
A midweek evening in January seems the likeliest date for
re-staging but neighbours Tottenham Hotspur and the FA Cup are also
factors to be considered.
QPR's match with West Brom will kick off at 3pm as planned
after the club held a meeting this afternoon to discuss the
matter.
Loftus Road is close to three Tube stations and fans are
often reliant on the service but a statement on Ranger's website
read: 'Supporters are advised to allow extra time for their
journeys to and from Loftus Road.
'Buses will be running on the usual Sunday/Bank Holiday
service on the day of the fixture, whilst parking in the borough
will be free.
'Supporters who are unable to attend the fixture owing to
the Tube strikes will be entitled to a full refund.'
Fulham will wait for official confirmation of the Tube
strike before deciding if any action needs to be taken over their
Boxing Day match with Southampton at Craven Cottage.
Derailed: Fans will have found it difficult to get
across the capital on Boxing Day
A club spokesman said: 'We are monitoring
situation and putting contingency in place but remain fully
committed to the game going ahead as
scheduled.'
Fulham play Swansea three days later.
Charlton are the only Championship side hosting a Boxing
Day fixture in the capital but it is understood their match with
Ipswich should not be too badly disrupted and will go ahead. Most
home fans travel in from Kent rather than central
London.
The announcement by Aslef means London Underground drivers
are on course to walk out on Boxing Day, as well as January 18 and
25 in a row over bank holiday pay. It will be the third successive
Christmas walkout by Tube drivers.
The move was announced after Aslef members voted by 9-1 in
favour of strikes. A spokesman said: 'The ballot result shows the
strength of feeling that remains on this issue.'