Arsenal and Crystal Palace will battle for a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Tuesday night under a cloud of significant injury concerns. The quarter-final clash at the Emirates Stadium, the final fixture for both sides before Christmas, will see a combined eleven players ruled out due to fitness issues.
Palace's Defensive and Midfield Blow
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is contending with a lengthy absentee list. Key defender Daniel Muñoz is set to be out until January after undergoing surgery, with a prognosis of four to six weeks. The midfield has been decimated by the long-term knee injury to Cheick Doucoure, while Daichi Kamada faces a spell out with a hamstring problem.
Defender Chadi Riad is being managed cautiously after a long layoff, with his training schedule described as a "daily decision". The Eagles are also without young talents Rio Cardines (adductor) and Caleb Kporha (back), further depleting Glasner's options.
Arsenal's Defensive Crisis Deepens
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, fresh from a Premier League win over Everton, are grappling with a defensive crisis. Centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is pushing in his recovery but is not yet ready, while right-back Ben White is confirmed out for a few games, albeit not with a major injury.
The Gunners have also lost young defender Cristhian Mosquera for a longer-than-expected period, and midfielder Max Dowman is set for weeks on the sidelines after picking up an injury last weekend. Playmaker Kai Havertz is making good progress but is not expected back until at least the end of the month.
Quarter-Final Stakes Amid Squad Challenges
This injury crisis for both sides sets up a fascinating tactical battle. Arsenal will be aiming to use their home advantage and squad depth to secure a semi-final spot, while Palace, after two consecutive defeats including a loss to Leeds United, will hope to cause an upset despite their missing personnel.
The match promises to be a test of each club's resilience and the ability of their fringe players to step up on a big occasion. With a place at Wembley within touching distance, both Arteta and Glasner will need to find solutions from within their depleted squads to keep their Carabao Cup dreams alive.
