Oliver Glasner hails Crystal Palace ‘a better team’ without Arsenal star Eberechi Eze
Oliver Glasner hails Crystal Palace as ‘a better team’ without Arsenal star Eberechi Eze originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as your preferred source by clicking here.
have had an excellent start to the 2025/26 season as they have suffered just one defeat in the Premier League after the first eight games.
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The Eagles began their campaign with an FA Community Shield triumph on penalties and continued to replicate this form during the Championship season.
Although they recorded crucial wins, they failed to maximize them with four draws and hence they currently occupy the eighth position in the league table.
Palace now prepare to face this weekend, which will be a tough test for them, especially after suffering a defeat against Larnaca in the midweek Conference League clash.
Before the match, Glasner claimed the Eagles were a much better team creatively after selling Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise to Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
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Both players played a crucial role in Palace’s rise under Glasner in recent years before Olise joined Bayern last summer and Eze left the team this season.
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“In Eberechi we lost a player who could decide a game on his own in a single situation,” Glasner told reporters. “Sometimes, especially after such an emotional game or such a disappointing defeat, it’s good to look at the facts. I always look at the stats and we have the highest xG in the Premier League.
“Crystal Palace, after selling Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze and bringing in Yeremy Pino and Ismaïla Sarr, have the highest xG in the entire Premier League ahead of Arsenal and all these teams.
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“It’s an honor for the team, not for individuals. For the whole team. It just shows the effort the team puts in every game.
“Yes, of course, everyone who loves Crystal Palace would like Michael and Ebs to still be in the team. But on the other hand it shows that we can also create enough chances to score goals.
“But now this is also what we need to learn and improve by giving the players time to be as effective.
“We lost a fantastic player and an even more fantastic person. I can’t wait to see him again, but no friendship during the match.”
Eberechi Eze joined Arsenal this summer
Eze established himself at Queens Park Rangers, then moved to Selhurst Park in August 2020 and became one of the most influential players in Crystal Palace’s history.
He scored the goal that helped them win the FA Cup against Manchester City, marking his name in the Crystal Palace history books.
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The 27-year-old joined Arsenal this summer for a first stay. £60 million ($80 million) plus potential add-ons of £7.5m. The England international has recorded two assists and a solitary goal in 10 matches for the Gunners.
While he is still adjusting to life at the Emirates Stadium under Mikel Arteta, it will be interesting to see him play against his former club on Sunday October 26.