Why Arsenal vs Man City is postponed and when it could be played

The reigning champions have been pushed all season by the Gunners, who have won nine of their opening 10 games including convincing victories over both Liverpool and Tottenham.

Mikel Arteta's side have answered almost every question asked of them in the opening weeks of the season, with only a loss at Manchester United - in a game where they otherwise performed well - the only black mark against their name.

Their biggest test to date - and likely their biggest test of the season - was due to come tonight, here's why it has been pushed back.

Arsenal vs Man City was originally scheduled for a 7.30pm BST kick-off tonight, Wednesday, October 19.

The match was due to be played at the Emirates Stadium.

Match postponements around the Queen's death, and subsequent policing shortages due to the monarch's funeral plans, meant that Arsenal's Europa League game against PSV Eindhoven was unable to go ahead as planned on September 15.

UEFA told Arsenal they had to stage the fixture before November 3 or forfeit the game - handing PSV a win - so, with permission from the Premier League, the Gunners were allowed to move the fixture to October 20 at the expense of their City game.

A statement from the Premier League at the time read: "The Premier League has agreed with Uefa to postpone Arsenal FC’s Premier League match with Manchester City FC, originally due to be played on 19 October, to allow for Arsenal FC’s re-arranged Uefa Europa League game with PSV Eindhoven.

“Arsenal FC vs PSV Eindhoven, originally scheduled to be played on Thursday 15 September, will now be played on Thursday 20 October 18.00."

A new date is yet to be confirmed, though it will almost certainly now come in the new year given the packed schedule the season continues to juggle with the six-week break for the World Cup.

The next available midweek date for both teams is around January 17-19, 2023.

Should that midweek be chosen, the Gunners would have days earlier travelled to Tottenham for the second north London derby of the season, and then welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium.

City, meanwhile, would have faced United at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby before Wolves visit the following weekend.