Manchester City and Liverpool have received good news in the title race as it was confirmed that two key Crystal Palace players will be absent from their matches due to injuries.
Palace welcome City in the Premier League on Saturday before heading to Anfield next Sunday.
Arsenal are hopeful that the Eagles can challenge their title rivals, but the chances of that happening have decreased after Oliver Glasner provided the latest update on his injury-hit team.
A total of eight players are in the treatment room, including centre-backs Marc Guehi and Chris Richards. Glasner confirmed that the duo will miss at least Palace’s next two matches, stating on Friday: ‘All the players who were in the squad in the last games are fit again.
‘[Marc] is not training with the team at the moment. I would say he will be out for at least two or three weeks.
‘We will take it day by day – one day it looks better and then the next day not so. But I think he [Richards] will miss at least the Liverpool game and then we will see. He will be sidelined for two or three weeks.’
Due to the injuries to the defenders and the ongoing absence of Rob Holding, Palace will probably use a back-three with only one natural centre-back in the form of Joachim Andersen.
Right-back and captain Joel Ward and midfielder Jefferson Lerma are expected to fill in for the time being.
Glasner has only clinched one victory since taking over from Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park, with the South Londoners currently in 14th place in the table and just eight points clear of the relegation zone.
But there has been some positive news, with Glasner confirming that key player Michael Olise is back and available for selection – though not as a starter.
‘Michael is returning to the squad. He has showcased his individual skills in possession. His dribbling and finishing are excellent,’ the manager added,
‘We spoke to the medical team and they recommend 15 or 20 minutes. He is ready, which gives us an additional option towards the end of the game so we are pleased.
‘However, he has been out for eight weeks now, for the fourth time this season, so he has spent more time in rehabilitation than on the pitch. We will give him the time to regain his best performance, to restore his quality.
‘Everyone needs rhythm, everyone needs minutes, needs training. He is now starting to get that, so I don’t expect him to be at his best level after eight or nine weeks of injury, but he can play for 15 or 20 minutes.
‘If the game is still close at the end, then perhaps he can make one or two crucial contributions to impact the game against us.’
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