Tube strikes put Arsenal and Chelsea Boxing Day games at risk
Boxing Day fixtures at Arsenal and Chelsea are under serious threat from the Tube strike with plans under consideration to postpone at least one of the games for 24 hours.
Arsenal are due to host Wolves on Monday at 3pm and Chelsea are scheduled to kick off at home to Fulham at 1pm. Planned industrial action by Tube drivers, however, has thrown both games into jeopardy because of the number of stadium staff and supporters who will rely upon London Underground to reach the Emirates and Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal and Chelsea have been advised that the strike threat is not an empty one. Transport for London bosses launched a High Court challenge on Monday after crisis talks with the Aslef union broke down.
Travel chaos: Fans face difficulty getting to The Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day
The clubs will await the outcome of the legal action tomorrow before acting but are aware of the need to move quickly and a decision is expected within the next 36 hours.
There are obvious transport and parking concerns with around 100,000 fans travelling to games by road. More than 3,000 Wolves fans are planning to make the journey south.
There are also potential problems inside the stadium because Arsenal and Chelsea each employ more than 1,000 matchday staff, including stewards who they must guarantee are inside the ground if safety certificates are to be granted.
On Strike: Tube drivers have planned a 24 hour walkout for Boxing Day
If Wednesday's High Court challenge fails to end the strike threat, Arsenal may move their game back to Tuesday Dec 27, also a bank holiday, with a kick-off at 3pm.
Johan Djourou has been ruled out for at least three weeks, plunging Arsene Wenger into a defensive crisis. Djourou has been filling in at right back in the absence of Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson but pulled a groin in Sunday’s defeat at Manchester City.
With two left backs, Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos, both injured, it has stretched boss Wenger’s defensive cover to its limits.
Gibbs is close to a return from a hernia operation but is unlikely to be ready in time for tomorrow’s game at Aston Villa.
Under threat? The Boxing Day fixture between Chelsea and Fulham will be affected by the strike
Alex Song, who can operate as an emergency centre half, will miss the trip to Villa Park because of a ban for picking up a fifth booking of the season.
It leaves the Gunners with Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, 19-year-old Ignasi Miquel and Sebastien Squillaci.
Arsenal are 12 points adrift of leaders City and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny claims one of the targets now is to finish above north London rivals Spurs. ‘We don’t want to finish below Tottenham, no matter what,’ he said. ‘It isn’t even something we can think about. That’s the mentality here.’
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