Crystal Palace Boss Oliver Glasner Apologises For ‘Not Telling Truth’ About Eberechi Eze

A frustrated Oliver Glasner offered an apology in his latest press conference before revealing why Eberechi Eze was absent from Crystal Palace’s Conference League play-off game.

It appears Eze has played his last game for Palace after he was left out of their first-ever European game ahead of a proposed move to Arsenal.

The 27-year-old winger, who is set to undergo a medical on Friday ahead of a reported £68 million move to the Gunners, is said to have called Glasner on Thursday morning to say he was unavailable for selection.

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But a day earlier, Glasner suggested Eze and Marc Guehi, another player who is being strongly linked with a move away, would start in the Conference League play-off clash against Fredrikstad.

“Most of you will be surprised that they will start again [on Thursday] because of all the rumours,” he said in his pre-match press conference.

“They are good, they are committed to the team. When one of the players will leave they want to leave as the guys who always gave 100 per cent for Crystal Palace.”

Crystal Palace fan holds aloft sign during the Conference League Play-off against Fredrikstad. Image credit: Getty

Eze was soon left out of the game and unsurprisingly, Glasner was asked why in his press conference, shortly after Palace recorded a 1-0 win thanks to a 54th-minute winner from Jean-Phillipe Mateta.

“I have to apologise to all of you because I didn’t tell the truth yesterday,” he began.

“I thought he would play. He called me and said he didn’t feel well. You have to ask him (why), maybe in a few days. No (I don’t think he will play for the club again).”

As you can see from the footage below, Glasner would go on to lament the club’s business in the transfer window.

“We are very late, there are 10 days to go to find the right replacements,” he said. “Again, we could’ve done much better than we did. It’s no criticism, it’s just telling facts, this group is working so hard.

“I know we can rely on this group, but it’s really not the best way to start into the season. No defeat, that’s all good, but I think we are below the edge.”

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“I don’t think he’ll {Eze} play for us again” Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is frustrated with the club’s business in the transfer window, and says his squad is short on numbers 🔴🔵

Glasner was once again prodded on Eze and continued to be asked what Palace must do in the final days of the window.

“It’s clear now I can’t do anything,” he said. “I can’t sign the players. We have to act. This is Crystal Palace’s future. We need the right players.”

“The profile is defined for months,” added Glasner. “It’s not surprising Ebs left.”

Arsenal Could Sell Player to Palace to Smooth Eze Transfer

Arsenal could sell first-team star to Crystal Palace to ensure Eberechi Eze deal goes smoothlyArsenal could sell first-team star to Crystal Palace to ensure Eberechi Eze deal goes smoothly

Updated 12:06 21 Aug 2025 GMT+1Published 12:02 21 Aug 2025 GMT+1
Arsenal could sell first-team star to Crystal Palace to ensure Eberechi Eze deal goes smoothly
The Crystal Palace man has reportedly ‘reached an agreement in principle’ to join Arsenal despite previous links with Spurs.

Arsenal could offer a player to Crystal Palace in order to ensure their move for Eberechi Eze goes through without issues.

Eze, 27, looks set to become an Arsenal player despite being heavily linked with Spurs in recent weeks.

On Wednesday, The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Arsenal had “agreed a deal in principle” with Eze concerning a transfer thought to be worth around £68m.

The England international, by his own admission, was a Gunners fan as a child and revealed how he loved watching Thierry Henry in his formative years.

“I just supported them from [a] young [age], the way they play… I played with them when I was younger as well,” Eze said during an interview with Alessandro Morolli-Schiavone back in 2018.

“When I was younger, I used to love Thierry Henry, and that’s sort of why I decided to sign there… obviously to play for the club you support, that’s what I wanted to do… I’ve grown a love for the team.”

Eberechi Eze in action for Crystal Palace (Credit:Getty)

However, as things stand, Eze is still contracted to Crystal Palace, which will likely change in the coming days.

Eze will become the Gunners’ seventh signing of the summer – with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres having arrived earlier in the window – upon the completion of his switch.

But the north London club may even offer one of their own players in a reported separate deal to ensure the Eze transfer runs smoothly.

According to the Independent, Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior could move to Palace and would be a welcome addition on the currently bare left side of Oliver Glasner’s defence, which would be further depleted if captain Marc Guehi leaves for Liverpool this summer.

GiveMeSport reported on Wednesday that Portuguese side Porto are keen on the 25-year-old, but sources indicated that his reported £58,000 per week salary could be a sticking point in negotiations.

Jakub Kiwior could leave Arsenal (Credit:Getty)

Last week, Caught Offside reported that Kiwior was also of interest to several Premier League clubs, including Everton and Wolves as well as Serie A giants AC Milan.

Mikel Arteta is said to value the Poland international as a squad player, with the decision on his future thought to hang on whether the player himself wants to leave.

The Pole, who is contracted to Arsenal until 2028, filled in when first-choice centre-back Gabriel was out injured towards the end of the 2024/25 season and played in the Champions League clashes against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Transfer News, Premier League, Football