Europa: Arsenal vs PSV tie postponed over Police worry

Arsenal’s Europa League clash against PSV Eindhoven on Thursday evening has been postponed.

The Gunners were set to play the second match of their European campaign at the Emirates this week but it has now been called off due to “severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues.”

That is due to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A new date will be communicated in due course, according to governing body UEFA.

There was doubt surrounding the fixture already due to UEFA moving Rangers’ Champions League home tie against Napoli from Tuesday to Wednesday. Away supporters had also been banned for the match.

And talks between the Met and UEFA on Tuesday afternoon determined there would not be sufficient policing as London prepares for a major operation ahead of the late monarch’s funeral the following Monday (September 19).

The 96-year-old’s coffin will be flown to London on Tuesday night, having been taken to Edinburgh from Balmoral on Sunday.

The Gunners kicked their Europa League campaign off with a win over FC Zurich last week, with Marquinhos and Eddie Nketiah netting for Mikel Arteta’s side.

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The Queen’s death was announced publicly during the first-half, and when the players emerged for the second period, a minute’s silence was held – though it was marred by booing from sections of the Swiss crowd.

News of the postponement will come as a huge blow to the Gunners who, along with the Premier League’s other 19 clubs, already need to find an extra midweek slot following the cancellation of last weekend’s fixtures. That looks set to come as late as January.

And with the Europa League group stages taking place in a hectic period this season as a result of the Winter World Cup, finding a new date in the calendar for a postponed European match will be a difficult task.