Arsenal are set to travel to the north-west of England by plane ahead of their EFL Cup fourth-round clash against League Two side Fleetwood Town. Mikel Arteta's team will face their opponents on Tuesday at 20:00, hoping to avoid an upset and advance to the next stage of the tournament.
The trip has been meticulously planned to account for the Ballon d'Or ceremony, which takes place on Monday evening in London at the London Palladium, where several players and club staff are expected to attend. The Gunners are keen to minimise any disruption to their preparations for the cup tie.
Flight to Blackpool and precedents
On Tuesday, Arsenal will fly from Luton to Blackpool, allowing them to continue their match preparations. The team is expected to arrive in Blackpool early in the afternoon, ensuring they can conduct their usual pre-match routine, including a meal, walk, and team meeting at the hotel.
This practice of flying out on match day for EFL Cup ties is not new. Back in October 2024, the team travelled by train to Preston before securing a 3-0 victory over Preston North End. This logistical change is purely practical to accommodate training schedules.
Ballon d'Or nominees
The ceremony promises to be a significant event for the club, with several male and female players nominated for individual honours.
- Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhães, and William Saliba have made the final 30 nominees for the men’s Ballon d'Or following their success in the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final last season.
- Goalkeeper David Raya is nominated for the Yashin Trophy.
- Alessia Russo and Marion Caldentey are contenders for the women's Ballon d'Or.
- Manager Mikel Arteta features among the candidates for Coach of the Year.
- The club itself is nominated in the Men’s Team of the Year category alongside PSG, Flamengo, Bodo-Glimt, and Bayern Munich.
Once the ceremony wraps up, Arsenal will immediately shift their focus back to the imminent game against Fleetwood Town.
