Oliver Glasner claims Crystal Palace are BETTER after selling Eberechi Eze: "It's a fact"

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Oliver Glaser has stated “the fact” that Crystal Palace are more creative without Eberechi Eze. The inspirational England star scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final to secure the South London club’s first major trophy in May.

But since Eze’s £60m summer transfer to Sunday’s opponents Arsenal , the stats show that Palace are now creating better chances. After eight Premier League games - and only one defeat - the Eagles top the XG (expected goals) table while they finished in seventh last year.

The Austrian’s side also improved after the £60m sale of Michael Olise in July 2024. And Ismaila Sarr is now combining with £26m Spaniard Yeremy Pino in the playmaking roles.

Glasner said: “Eberechi was definitely a player who could decide games on his own with one situation. But it's good to look at the facts. I always look at my stats and I think we have the highest XG in the whole Premier League. It’s a fact.

"Crystal Palace , after selling Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze and bringing in Jeremy Pino and Ismaïla Sarr. This is credit to the players. This is credit to the team, not to the individuals. The whole team.

"As Crystal Palace , having the highest XG in the whole Premier League in front of City, Arsenal, Liverpool , all these teams, just shows how much effort this team shows every single game. Yes, of course, everybody who likes Crystal Palace would like to have Michael and Ebs still in the squad.

“We lost a fantastic player, and even more fantastic person. Looking forward to meeting him, but no friendship during the game. But on the other side, it shows that we can also create enough chances to score goals.”

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Palace have been less efficient in taking chances and top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta, who scored a hat-trick against Bournemouth , missed three clear opportunities in the shock UEFA Conference League home defeat to AEK Larnaca. They had 15 shots against the Cypriot side and only one on target.

Premier League leaders Arsenal have only conceded three goals in eight games and Glasner added: “Maybe it clicks at the Emirates to be efficient, having one or two chances and scoring one or two goals."

Palace’s 19-match unbeaten run stretching back to April was ended at Everton and they have now gone three games without a win.

“The start was excellent, but it was clear that the whole season can’t be like this, because then we win all four competitions,” said Glasner. “But no concerns at all, because the performances are OK.”

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And the Austrian, who won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, promised his squad will learn from the Larnaca defeat. “When you are in the Premier League, you are always told: ‘You will win the Conference League’,” he said.

“Maybe the whole environment needed it to stay humble."

England keeper Dean Henderson added: “The first game in Europe at Selhurst and we should win that game - there are no excuses. Maybe it's a bit of a reality check. I think the intensity could have been higher when we maybe dropped to their level. I thought we maybe wasted 45 minutes just playing slow round the back. Sometimes it can bite you in the backside.”