Arsenal confirms match is in doubt

Arsenal have confirmed their Boxing Day fixture with West Ham is in doubt due to the threat of a tube strike.

London Underground drivers are set to stage three strikes over Bank Holiday pay, with the first scheduled for December 26.

The move by members of the union Aslef threatens travel chaos in the capital and Arsenal admit their game at the Emirates Stadium is under threat.

"Arsenal Football Club is currently in discussions with the Premier League, West Ham United, police and relevant authorities over the possible postponement of the Boxing Day fixture at Emirates Stadium, following the announcement that London Underground drivers plan industrial action on that day,'' a statement on the club's website read.

"The match is in doubt due to the difficulties of getting 60,000 supporters, plus matchday staff and employees to the stadium safely in the advent of disruption to public transport on a public holiday.

"The club will make a further announcement as soon as a final decision is made.''

It is one of three Premier League matches in London slated for Boxing Day, with the other two still going ahead as planned.

QPR have reiterated on Tuesday afternoon that their match with West Brom is "definitely going ahead", while Fulham insist they have no plans to cancel their match with Southampton.

There are also a number of London clubs hosting Boxing Day matches in the Football League.

Charlton have confirmed they are "monitoring the situation" ahead of their npower Championship clash with Ipswich but "can't see there being any problems".

Leyton Orient say their League One encounter with Swindon will be "going ahead as planned" despite the potential disruptions.

AFC Wimbledon are not expecting any impact to their League Two match against Northampton as the nearest stations to their Kingsmeadow home are mainline.

Dagenham and Redbridge, who host Southend, are another expecting their Boxing Day match to go ahead.

"At this moment in time there is no question of the game being called off," the club told Press Association Sport.

"We are playing Southend and there is a mainline direct to Barking so they should not be disrupted."

The tube strike was announced on Monday as Aslef members voted by 9-1 in favour of strikes in a long-running row over extra pay for working on Bank Holidays.

They are due to walk out for 24 hours on December 26, and again on January 18 and 25.