As if we don't have enough uncertainties and obscurities to ponder and fret over in FPL-land already, it was just confirmed at the end of last week that one of this week's winning League Cup semi-finalists will have their league fixture from the weekend of the Final - Gameweek 31 - anteponed (brought forward) into Gameweek 26. (I really can't recall this ever happening in the past; if it did, it was incredibly uncommon. Last season, when most of the cancelled fixtures from the FA Semi-Final weekend were moved forwards rather than backwards, is the first instance of such a thing that I can remember.)
The victors in tomorrow's second-leg tie at The Emirates, either Arsenal or Chelsea, will thus be enjoying a 'surprise' and rather imminent Double Gameweek - the week after next; as will their scheduled league opponents from the weekend of the Final.
We will know by Wednesday morning if we're going to get a Double Gameweek 26 of:
Brentford v Arsenal Forest v Wolves Wolves v Arsenal
OR
Chelsea v Leeds Everton v Bournemouth Everton v Chelsea
Of course, Arsenal and Wolves or Chelsea and Everton will also have a Blank Gameweek in GW31 (as will City/Palace or Sunderland/Newcastle) - which is likely to be a much bigger deal; but at least we have a fair amount of time to get ready for that.
The teams in the other semi-final, on Wednesday, seem likely to be spared an anteponing like this because of the European schedule: Newcastle and Crystal Palace (Manchester City's GW31 opponent) have a pair of midweek play-off games in GWs 26 and 27. Hence, it seems likely that, if City or Newcastle reach the Final, their Blank on GW31 will be made up by a more typical postponement - probably to Gameweek 33.
Yes, it is a lot to keep track of....
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