Arsenal fixture v Bournemouth moved amid tough Champions League schedule

Arsenal’s Premier League fixture against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium has been rescheduled due to the Gunners’ Champions League commitments.

Originally set to take place on Sunday, October 20, the match has now been moved forward to Saturday, October 19, with a 5.30pm kick-off. The game will still be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports.

The reason for the rescheduling is to accommodate Arsenal’s European fixtures. Mikel Arteta’s side will be in action in the Champions League just three days later, facing Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, October 22. This change ensures that Arsenal have a crucial 72-hour recovery period between their domestic and European matches.

Following the Champions League draw last week, Arsenal’s full fixture list for the League Phase has now been confirmed by UEFA.

The Gunners will kick off their campaign away to Atalanta on Thursday, September 19, before hosting Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, October 1.

The schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, September 19th – Atalanta vs Arsenal

• Tuesday, October 1st – Arsenal vs PSG

• Tuesday, October 22nd – Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk

• Wednesday, November 6th – Inter Milan vs Arsenal

• Tuesday, November 26th – Sporting CP vs Arsenal

• Wednesday, December 11th – Arsenal vs Monaco

• Wednesday, January 22nd – Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb

• Wednesday, January 29th – Girona vs Arsenal

All of Arsenal’s Champions League fixtures are set to kick off at 20:00 BST.

The Champions League schedule poses some challenging scenarios for Arsenal, particularly with the timing of their away fixtures.

The trip to Atalanta on September 19th is perhaps the most inconvenient, coming just days after an away match against Tottenham Hotspur and immediately before a visit to Manchester City.

This will leave the Gunners with a tight turnaround against the reigning Premier League champions.

The home match against PSG on October 1st falls between relatively manageable domestic fixtures against Leicester City and Southampton. Similarly, the home game against Shakhtar Donetsk is scheduled right after Arsenal’s trip to Bournemouth and before a high-profile clash with Liverpool at the Emirates.

However, the trip to Inter Milan on November 6th adds to another gruelling period for Arteta’s side, sandwiched between away games at Newcastle United and Chelsea. This means Arsenal will face three consecutive away matches, testing the squad’s depth and resilience.

The away game at Sporting CP on November 26th follows a home match against Nottingham Forest and precedes a trip to West Ham United, a London derby that will hopefully not demand too much travel fatigue.

The home fixture against Monaco on December 11th is nestled between an away game at Fulham and a home match against Everton. The Gunners will benefit from staying in London for the entirety of that week.

Moving into 2025, Arsenal’s campaign continues with a home game against Dinamo Zagreb on January 22nd, followed by another home fixture against Aston Villa and then an away match against Wolves.

Arsenal will conclude the League Phase of the Champions League with an away trip to Girona on January 29th, just days after facing Wolves, and before hosting Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

The scheduling of Arsenal’s Champions League fixtures, particularly the away games, has not been favourable, especially when compared to their title rivals, Manchester City.

Arsenal will face City twice in the Premier League following European away games, while City will be playing at home both times before these crucial matches.

Additionally, Arsenal’s fixture congestion includes playing on Thursday before facing City on a Sunday, whereas City will have the advantage of playing on Wednesday.

This sequence of fixtures presents a significant challenge for Mikel Arteta and his squad, who will need to manage their resources carefully to maintain their competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions.

With a tough run of games in September and November, Arsenal’s ability to rotate effectively and recover quickly will be crucial in their pursuit of silverware this season.