Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has issued a frank assessment of his team's defensive frailties ahead of a daunting Carabao Cup quarter-final trip to Arsenal on Tuesday night.
The Eagles travel to the Emirates Stadium aiming to bounce back from consecutive defeats, the latest a surprise Premier League loss to Leeds United. Glasner identified a specific and critical area for improvement if his side are to progress to the semi-finals.
Acknowledging the Weakness
Following the defeat at Leeds, where set-piece defending was exploited, Glasner outlined two potential mindsets for his squad. The Austrian boss stressed the importance of embracing the challenge rather than dwelling on concerns.
"For me, there's always two possibilities to act when you're weak in defending set-pieces," Glasner said. "One is to have concerns and be worried about the next game. Then, my feeling, my experience, tells me we will get the next punishment."
He advocated for the second approach: "Or it’s ‘okay, see that there's a challenge’. I don't know how many setbacks I had in my life... It’s about taking the lessons, seeing it as a challenge and say, ‘OK, we will do it better in three days.’"
The Arsenal Threat Magnifies the Problem
The timing of this defensive issue is particularly concerning for Palace. While the Eagles rank in the top three for scoring from set-pieces, their recent work at the other end has been poor. The challenge is amplified exponentially by their next opponents.
Arsenal are the Premier League's most prolific scorers from set-piece situations, making this a formidable test of Palace's ability to rectify their flaws quickly. Glasner acknowledged the threat, stating, "I think the game will be different to [Leeds]. Arsenal will have a few set-pieces."
Confidence in a Quick Fix
Despite the obvious concern, Glasner expressed confidence that his players can find a solution before Tuesday's clash. He pointed to recent positive performances as proof of their capability.
"I know that we can defend them better," he insisted. "We have to give the players solutions. That's the job of myself and my staff. And then we’ll give them the confidence that they can defend it."
He cited a 2-0 victory over Brentford, a team renowned for set-piece prowess, as evidence. "We won against Brentford with two set-piece goals, and defended there very well," Glasner recalled.
The manager concluded with a determined outlook: "It's always a good challenge, and if we take this challenge, we can grow and learn from it. This will be our approach." Palace fans will hope that approach is enough to overcome Arsenal's aerial threat and secure a coveted semi-final spot.
