Aston Villa fans are left puzzled as their team faces a second consecutive away match in London. After a hard-fought victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Villa now travel to Arsenal in a Premier League clash that has sparked controversy.
Manager Unai Emery has openly questioned the fixture schedule, saying he cannot understand why Villa would meet Arsenal twice before facing Nottingham Forest even once this season.
“It is the first time in my career as a coach, 20 years, that we are finishing the first part of the season not playing against 19 teams. We are playing 18 teams, with Arsenal two times. I don’t understand. I don’t know why,” Emery said on Monday.
Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, also expressed frustration on X (formerly Twitter), claiming the club had not received a “clear explanation” for the scheduling. “I asked EPL people and they didn’t tell us. So it is a mystery,” he posted.
However, sources close to the Premier League have told the Press Association that Villa were given a full explanation when the 2025-26 calendar was released. The league says the home-away sequence follows rules approved by club representatives.
Fixture scheduling in the Premier League considers multiple factors, including FA Cup rounds, European competitions, and the balance between home and away matches.
“The Premier League tries to make sure clubs do not play away matches on both sides of a European fixture,” a source explained. “This season, the expansion of European competitions has made it harder to balance the schedule perfectly for everyone.”
Vidagany also questioned why certain clubs appear to have more convenient schedules. Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United have all played back-to-back home games in match rounds 18 and 19.
The Premier League says festive fixtures are arranged so that teams playing at home during the Christmas round – matchweek 18 – will usually be away in the New Year round – matchweek 20 – and vice-versa. This is intended to balance travel and home advantage across the season.
Villa previously played Arsenal at home on December 6, but quick reversals, where teams meet twice in a short period, are not unusual. They are sometimes used to create a better overall home-and-away sequence.
Emery’s concern is partly about fairness. “Normally we are playing tomorrow [on Tuesday] against Nottingham Forest to end the first part of the season. But, of course, I accept it,” he added.
Villa’s complaints highlight a broader tension in fixture scheduling. Fans and clubs often notice patterns where London clubs and traditional “big six” teams get consecutive home games, while smaller clubs face more travel or back-to-back away matches.
“The league has rules, but perception matters,” a source told the Press Association. “When a smaller club travels twice to London within days while bigger clubs stay home, it raises questions even if the rules are being followed.”
The Premier League insists it communicates the fixture rules and sequencing clearly to clubs before the season starts. But the complexity of balancing domestic and European competitions sometimes leads to situations like Villa’s current schedule.
For Villa, the upcoming trip to Arsenal is crucial. After a morale-boosting victory against Chelsea, maintaining momentum against a title-chasing team could define their season.
Emery’s squad must also manage recovery and travel. Playing consecutive away games in London is physically demanding, especially in the congested festive period.
Fans have joined the conversation online. Many sympathize with Villa’s concerns, calling for more transparency from the Premier League. Others argue that all clubs face scheduling challenges during busy periods.
Football analysts note that fixture quirks like this are not new. Quick reversals and unusual home-away sequences have appeared in past seasons, often justified by European commitments or FA Cup timing.
Yet, the situation has reignited debate about fairness in the league. Smaller clubs argue they face higher travel fatigue and less preparation time, potentially impacting results.
For now, Villa must focus on performance. Emery has emphasized that while he questions the schedule, the team’s preparation and mindset are the priority.
“It’s unusual, but we have to adapt,” Emery said. “Football is about solving problems on and off the pitch. We accept the challenge and we are ready to play.”
The upcoming clash at the Emirates Stadium will be closely watched, not just for the scoreline but for whether Villa can prove their resilience in a testing fixture schedule.
The Premier League may continue to face scrutiny over fixture fairness, but for Villa, it’s about results. Every point counts in the race to secure league safety or compete for European qualification.
