A rare and unusual fixture schedule has emerged in the Premier League this season, where teams only need to face 18 opponents in the first and second halves combined – because they have to play one team twice each in both the first and second halves.
As a result, top-ranked Arsenal and Aston Villa will face each other twice in the space of a month.
Unai Emery directly stated that this is the first time in his coaching career that he has not played each of the other teams once in the first half of a league season.
Villa have already expressed their complaints to the Premier League officials, who are yet to give a positive response.
Aston Villa have officially lodged a complaint with the Premier League regarding their scheduled away game against Arsenal tomorrow.
The third-placed team is confused by this fixture arrangement, as on this matchday, Premier League teams have started to face home and away reversals against the same opponents as in the first half – even though they have not yet played against
Nottingham Forest, which was supposed to take place before this round.
Although several other teams are in a similar situation, the in-form Villa remain dissatisfied, as they have to play another away game against a strong team just days after defeating Chelsea 2-1 away last Saturday.
Remarks by Damian Vidagany, Director of Football Operations at Aston Villa
The Premier League has moved a round of matches from the second half of the season to before the 19th round without providing a clear explanation. I have requested an explanation from the Premier League, but they have not told us the reason, so this matter remains a mystery to this day. The fact is that such an arrangement has made it more convenient for certain clubs that do not need to travel during this extremely busy Christmas fixture period.
You can check for yourselves which clubs have home games both in the previous round and the next. We have to play two away games in less than 72 hours... Of course, this cannot be an excuse, but from a recovery perspective, consecutive home games without travel are obviously much better.
It would be a shame if fixture scheduling becomes a matter of political maneuvering.
(At this stage, both Arsenal and Liverpool have two home games, while Manchester City and Villa have back-to-back away games)
Unai Emery's Remarks
This is the first time in my 20-year coaching career that I have not played against all 19 opponents once by the end of the first half of the season.
We have only played 18 teams but have to face Arsenal twice. I cannot understand why this is the case.
According to the normal fixture schedule, we should have played against Nottingham Forest tomorrow to conclude the first half of the season.
I mention this because it is the only thing I cannot figure out at the moment. But of course, I will accept this arrangement.
