Eberechi Eze will not be present when Crystal Palace attempt to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six games at Arsenal on Saturday (5.30pm GMT).
Eagles coach Oliver Glasner will rest Eze after he sustained a foot injury during Palace’s 3-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. However, the Austrian hopes that the England international will return to Bournemouth on December 26th (3pm).
“He took a hit against Brighton,” Glasner explained, adding that Eze “got the next kick” after being injured in Palace’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.
“It doesn’t look serious, but when you have to wear the boots and kick the ball and it’s painful, the freedom of movement is not so free.”
W🤝#CPFC pic.twitter.com/TyFUGUDIZG
— Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) December 20, 2024
Injuries to Eberechi Eze
Eze missed trips to Wolves and Aston Villa either side of a home game against Fulham in November due to a hamstring injury.
The 26-year-old has yet to play 90 minutes in five games since his return, although he did set up Jean-Philippe Mateta for the only goal of the game at Ipswich Town on December 3.
“If you always feel pain when you move, you think about it (injury) too much and you can’t play the way you can play,” Glasner said.
“We need every player to be 100%, so it makes sense: we have decided that he will get a rest and hopefully be available for Bournemouth.”
“We need the best Eberechi Eze he can be and that’s why he needs to be fit like all the other players. I expect Ebere to be available for Bournemouth.”
The weekend 🔜#CPFC pic.twitter.com/giRfHR0Kfk
— Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) December 20, 2024
Palace vs Arsenal
Palace led Arsenal for 49 minutes thanks to a Mateta opener and Gabriel Jesus scored a hat-trick just 28 minutes later after the break rendered Eddie Nketiah’s late reply irrelevant.
“When you take the lead, confidence means not waiting, but also going forward and trying to score the second goal,” said Glasner. “We scored the first goal and then became passive.
“Then we’re 3-1 down – the game seems over – and suddenly we’re playing a lot more forward again and scored a second goal.
“Why not always play the same way? The same style, playing forward instead of cautiously. But that’s easy to say. I think everyone knows and has a lot of respect for Arsenal playing at the Emirates.
“Sometimes you have confidence, but they create so much pressure… you have to overcome that pressure.”
