Our first ‘double’ of the season is set for Gameweek 26.
Gameweek 26 will now either feature:
Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers playing twice, with the other 18 teams playing once
**OR**Chelsea and Everton playing twice, with the other 18 teams playing once
Whichever pair of teams ‘double’ in Gameweek 26 will also blank in Gameweek 31.
WHY IS THERE A DOUBLE GAMEWEEK 26 + BLANK GAMEWEEK 31?
The EFL Cup final clashes with Gameweek 31 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
So, whoever makes it to Wembley will have their Gameweek 31 league fixture postponed.
Here’s how the EFL Cup semi-finals look after the first legs:
Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle UnitedArsenal 3-2 Chelsea
Whoever wins in the Arsenal v Chelsea tie will have their Gameweek 31 fixture moved to the midweek after Gameweek 26. They’ll blank in the former and double in the latter.
As per the Premier League statement:
WHEN WILL WE KNOW FOR SURE WHO DOUBLES?
We will know for sure who doubles on the evening of Tuesday 3 February. That’s in between Gameweeks 24 and 25.
That is when Arsenal host Chelsea in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final. Most bookies give the Gunners somewhere in the region of 85%-90% chance of progression, due to their first-leg lead.
WHY CAN’T MAN CITY OR NEWCASTLE DOUBLE IN GAMEWEEK 26?
Whoever progresses out of Manchester City and Newcastle United in the other semi-final will also have their Gameweek 31 league fixture postponed.
However, neither of their outstanding league matches would be able to fall in Gameweek 26 (or 27).
Newcastle themselves are playing a two-legged Champions League play-off on either side of Gameweek 26.
Man City are free – but their scheduled Gameweek 31 opponents Crystal Palace aren’t. The Eagles have to contest a European play-off on either side of Gameweek 26, too:
Above image from Legomane
Whichever of Newcastle v Sunderland or Man City v Palace is postponed in Gameweek 31 (very likely the latter) probably then moves to Gameweek 33.
WHO WILL ARSENAL + WOLVES FACE IF THEY DOUBLE IN GAMEWEEK 26?
It’s a decent provisional double-header for the Gunners, albeit both matches are away games. Brentford have been in strong form on home soil, too.
Both Arsenal and Wolves have an FA Cup fourth-round tie to contest in between their Double Gameweek 26 fixtures, if it happens. Arsenal play Wigan Athletic and Wolves face Grimsby Town, so there is a good chance of second-stringers being sent out to play in those cup ties.
WHO WILL CHELSEA + EVERTON FACE IF THEY DOUBLE IN GAMEWEEK 26?
Chelsea’s provisional double-header is arguably the best of the four.
The Blues also have an FA Cup fourth-round tie to contest in between the above two possible fixtures, away at Hull City.
Everton are out of the cup, so wouldn’t have any mid-Gameweek distractions.
