Arsenal are reportedly hopeful that they will not be forced to forfeit their Europa League Group A clash with PSV Eindhoven as they scramble to find a new date for the game.
The Gunners opened their new continental campaign with a 2-1 win over FC Zurich last week thanks to goals from Eddie Nketiah and 19-year-old debutant Marquinhos.
Prior to the second half, players and fans at the Kybunpark learned of Queen Elizabeth II's death at the age of 96, and a minute's silence was held following the interval.
Premier League games and a multitude of other matches at elite and grassroots level were postponed at the weekend as a mark of respect, but the footballing calendar will become even more congested in the wake of further cancellations.
The Queen's state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey on September 19, and a significant police presence will therefore be required in London in the days leading up to Her Majesty's send-off.
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A lack of police resources means that Arsenal's home clash with PSV - which was originally due to take place on Thursday at the Emirates - has been postponed to a later date.
UEFA are refusing to budge on their stance that the game must be rescheduled for a date before the end of the group stage, but the Gunners are already facing a jam-packed schedule ahead of the mid-season break for the World Cup in Qatar.
Nevertheless, the Evening Standard reports that Arsenal are confident of finding a new date for the game and do not expect to have to forfeit the contest, as was the case with Tottenham Hotspur last year.
Antonio Conte's side memorably had to call off a fixture against Rennes due to a COVID-19 outbreak, and the Ligue 1 side were awarded the points, but Arsenal do not expect to suffer the same fate.
Mikel Arteta's team are understood to have been determined to fulfil Thursday's fixture, but it was not possible for the game to be moved to the Philips Stadion or played behind closed doors.
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The report adds that Arsenal chiefs remain in dialogue with authorities, but the North London club will most likely have to move one of their other domestic fixtures.
Manchester City are due to visit the Emirates in the Premier League on Wednesday October 19, and Arsenal could potentially try to rearrange that clash for their tie with PSV.
Alternatively, the Gunners' EFL Cup third-round battle with Brighton & Hove Albion - which is scheduled for the week beginning November 7 - may have to be rescheduled.
The final group-stage fixtures in the 2022-23 Europa League will take place on November 3, but UEFA have supposedly considered the possibility of allowing Arsenal and PSV to fulfil their fixture in January.
The draw for the knockout round playoffs will take place on November 7, and those fixtures are set to be played in February 2023 before the last-16 begins one month later.
Ben Knapton
