Crystal Palace are close to a fully-fit squad, but they’ll have at least one player suspended for both matches against Arsenal this week.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND: Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Crystal Palace FC at Amex Stadium on December 15, 2024. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Arsenal are set to face Crystal Palace twice this week, first in the League Cup quarter-finals at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, and then in a Premier League match at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Palace will have at least one player suspended for both games, with Daniel Munoz receiving his second yellow card of the League Cup in the last round against Aston Villa, and his fifth yellow card of the Premier League against Brighton at the weekend.
The former booking means a one-game ban to be served in the next round, which is Wednesday’s quarter-final. The latter booking means a one-game ban to be served in the next league game, which is Saturday’s match.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND: Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace is challenged by Pervis Estupinan of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Crystal Palace FC at Amex Stadium on December 15, 2024. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
As a result, Munoz effectively has the week off, and he won’t be involved against the Gunners at all. Given he’s started all 19 of Palace’s games this season, that’s a blow for the team.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that any red cards on Wednesday for either team will see the player involved suspended for Saturday’s fixture.
Suspensions for accumulations of yellow cards don’t carry over between competitions, but red cards do.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Newcastle United FC at Selhurst Park on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
On the injury front, Palace are hoping to welcome back Adam Wharton and Joel Ward this week, meaning only Matheus Franca de Oliveira will miss the game for fitness reasons.
Former Gunner Rob Holding also remains unavailable for undisclosed reasons. He’s been training individually since September and hasn’t made a senior squad for Palace since August.
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