The Premier League have confirmed the first double Gameweek of the season earlier this afternoon. QPR’s home clash against Spurs, which was originally scheduled for Sunday March 1, has been cancelled due to the latter’s progress to the Capital One Cup Final on the same day.
The date has now been moved to Saturday March 7, with both clubs already out of the FA Cup. This means that QPR and Spurs have a blank Gameweek 27 but then follow this up with a double Gameweek 28 – Spurs will host Swansea on Wednesday, March 4, before heading to Loftus Road three days later, whilst the R’s entertain Arsenal prior to playing host to their north London rivals.
Today’s news may persuade non-Tottenham owners to steer clear for now. Mauricio Pochettino’s side face West Brom, Arsenal, Liverpool and West Ham in the next four and with a blank to follow their Hammers showdown, it may well be that we turn our attentions away from the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli until Gameweek 28, when the fixtures take a turn for the better.
Charlie Austin’s short-term prospects are also questionable. The travel-sick R’s face three road trips in four (sto, SOT, sun, hul) before their blank, and whilst his home clashes with Arsenal and Spurs may deter some, it’s worth noting he’s notched against four of the top five already this season and can clearly deliver regardless of fixture.
