Arsenal's Carabao Cup Quarter-Final: A Boost Amid Palace's Injury Crisis
The stage is set for an intriguing Carabao Cup quarter-final clash as Arsenal hosts Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. With the Gunners aiming to reach the semi-finals for the third time in five years, they'll be eager to capitalize on their opponents' recent setbacks.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, is facing a mounting injury crisis. The Eagles' recent triumph in the FA Cup last season, where they lifted the trophy, stands in stark contrast to their struggles in the Carabao Cup. Last season, Palace exited at this stage to none other than Arsenal, and they haven't reached the semi-finals since 2012.
Both teams were in Premier League action on Saturday night, with Arsenal securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Everton, thanks to a Viktor Gyokeres penalty. Conversely, Palace suffered a defeat at Leeds United.
The quick turnaround to Tuesday's match poses a challenge for both sides, but particularly for Palace, who are grappling with an escalating injury crisis. The defeat at Elland Road was just the first blow for manager Oliver Glasner this weekend, with potential squad availability issues adding to his woes, according to Football London.
To make matters worse for Palace, they'll be without Ismalia Sarr due to his commitments at the Africa Cup of Nations. He and his Senegal team will begin their campaign against Botswana on Tuesday.
Defender Daniel Munoz remains out of action with a knee problem that requires surgical intervention. He won't be available until the end of January at the earliest, ruling him out of Tuesday evening's clash.
Glasner informed reporters earlier this month, "It's bad news. We will miss Dani for a few weeks and he will undergo surgery. The prognosis is four to six weeks, then he should be ready to play. But always, when you undergo surgery, you never know. We are always cautious. It doesn't look so serious."
Palace is also carefully monitoring striker Jean-Philippe Mateta's condition, as he's been battling a knee problem in recent weeks. While he appeared in the loss to Leeds, he was withdrawn with just over 10 minutes remaining. The quick fixture schedule could present Glasner with a dilemma, especially as the French forward has been playing while carrying discomfort and his game time is being carefully controlled. His availability for the Arsenal encounter remains uncertain, but any potential omission would represent a significant setback for the Eagles.
Adding to Palace's woes, Daichi Kamada is also unavailable for the coming weeks. The midfielder picked up a severe hamstring injury earlier this month and faces several weeks on the sidelines, meaning he has no chance of facing the Gunners.
Arsenal, too, is dealing with its own injury concerns. Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, and Gabriel currently represent their defensive fitness issues.
