![\"Oliver](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GlasnerJPG.jpg\")
Oliver Glasner wanted Eberechi Eze to start for Crystal Palace(Image: Channel 5)<\/p>\nEberechi Eze sat out of Crystal Palace’s Conference League first-leg play-off against Fredrikstad at Selhurst Park on Thursday night after calling manager Oliver Glasner<\/p>\n
21:11, 21 Aug 2025Updated 21:12, 21 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
Oliver Glasner wanted Eberechi Eze to start for Crystal Palace(Image: Channel 5)<\/p>\n
Oliver Glasner could not hide his disappointment after explaining why Eberechi Eze had already played his final game for Crystal Palace<\/a>. Eze is set to join Arsenal<\/a> in the coming days after the Gunners gazumped Tottenham to seal a \u00a367.5million deal<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old midfielder is expected to undergo a medical in the next few days after Arsenal agreed personal terms and met Palace\u2019s asking price<\/a>. Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and vice-chairman Tim Lewis moved fast to seal the deal on Wednesday after Kai Havertz suffered an injury.<\/p>\n Eze trained with Palace on Wednesday and was preparing to play against Fredrikstad in the first leg of their Conference League play-off at Selhurst Park on Thursday night. Glasner has been happy to continue selecting Eze and captain Marc Guehi, despite ongoing talks over their departures to Arsenal and Liverpool<\/a> respectively.<\/p>\n But it emerged in the hours before kick-off that Eze would not be playing his 168th game for Palace. Instead, he would watch the match as a spectator \u2013 and speaking before kick-off, it became clear who had made that decision.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Eberechi Eze: Crystal Palace make late U-turn after agreeing Arsenal transfer<\/a>READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Eze to Arsenal twist, Newcastle chase Isak replacement, Man Utd deal off<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I expected that he would start today for us,\u201d Glasner told Channel 5. \u201cBut he called me this morning and told me that he doesn\u2019t feel well to play in the evening and I have to accept it and everything else you have to ask the chairman.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked what his reaction was, Glasner added: \u201cAgain, I have to accept it if a player tells me he\u2019s not ready to play. Then of course I called the player who starts instead, which is Justin Devenny, to check that he\u2019s ready, because it\u2019s my responsibility to prepare the players who play for us in the best way.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t like to change your starting XI on matchday, especially in this situation \u2013 it\u2019s the first time in European football for Crystal Palace<\/a> \u2013 but again, we have to deal with it and this is what we do in the best way.\u201d<\/p>\n It had been thought that perhaps Palace wanted to protect their club-record sale, with an injury potentially scuppering the deal. But it seems that, instead, Eze did not feel capable of pulling on the Palace shirt one more time. It now seems that his last appearance came in the 0-0 draw against Chelsea<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta said: \u201cWe know he\u2019s a very good player, one of the best in our group. Everyone knows that he\u2019s not going to be here today but we have a big group of talented players that will give 100 per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Eberechi](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_GettyImages-2230461651.jpg\")
Eberechi Eze is heading to Arsenal(Image: Nigel French\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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