Why are Arsenal playing in the Champions League on a Thursday?
Arsenal fans may be wondering why their team’s Champions League opener against Atalanta is scheduled for a Thursday, rather than the traditional Tuesday or Wednesday. The reason behind this change lies in a revamp by UEFA, the governing body of European football.
UEFA has transformed the group stage of the Champions League from a 32-team format to a 36-team league phase. This change has been implemented to accommodate more teams and increase the competitiveness of the tournament. In addition, both the Europa League and the newly introduced Conference League will follow the new format.
To avoid overcrowding the European calendar with fixtures, UEFA has introduced a single exclusive matchweek for each of their three competitions. This means that during these matchweeks, fixtures from the other two tournaments will not take place. The purpose of this change is to give more prominence to each competition and allow fans to tune in to matches they may not have previously watched.
For the Champions League, matchweek one has been designated as the exclusive matchweek. This means that the 18 fixtures will be spread evenly across three nights, from Tuesday, September 17 to Thursday, September 19. Arsenal’s away trip to Atalanta has been selected for the Thursday night, just three days before their Premier League clash against Manchester City.
Aside from matchweek one, the only other Champions League matchweek that deviates from the traditional Tuesday-Wednesday format is the final one. On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, all 18 matches will kick off simultaneously at 8pm GMT.
What are Arsenal’s Champions League fixtures?
Arsenal fans will be eager to know their team’s Champions League fixtures for the league phase. Here are the eight matches Arsenal will play:
– Thursday, September 19: Atalanta vs Arsenal at Gewiss Stadium (Kick-off: 8pm)
– Tuesday, October 1: Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain at Emirates Stadium (Kick-off: 8pm)
– Tuesday, October 22: Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium (Kick-off: 8pm)
– Wednesday, November 6: Inter Milan vs Arsenal at San Siro (Kick-off: 8pm)
– Tuesday, November 26: Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal at Jose Alvalade Stadium (Kick-off: 8pm)
– Wednesday, December 11: Arsenal vs Monaco at Emirates Stadium (Kick-off: 8pm)
– Wednesday, January 22: Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb at Emirates Stadium (Kick-off: 8pm)
– Wednesday, January 29: Girona vs Arsenal at Estadi Montilivi (Kick-off: 8pm)
These fixtures offer Arsenal the opportunity to showcase their talent and compete against some of the top clubs in Europe. Fans will be eagerly anticipating their team’s performance in the Champions League and hoping that they can make a strong impact in the competition.
Overall, the changes made by UEFA to the Champions League format aim to create a more exciting and inclusive tournament. While Arsenal playing on a Thursday may seem unusual, it is part of a larger effort to enhance the viewing experience for football fans worldwide.