For better or worse, Crystal Palace could have a massive say in the Premier League title race.
Both Arsenal and Manchester City will hope their respective fixtures against the Eagles are slightly more straightforward than usual due to Palace preparing for the first European final in the club’s history.
Oliver Glasner has consistently maintained he does not have a large enough squad to rotate heavily, even if he wanted to. To reinforce that point, the Austrian made only two changes on Sunday from the side which started against Shakhtar.
That could be an attempt to build momentum before heading to Germany.
The Gunners certainly have the advantage of facing Palace just three days before the Conference League Final, meaning Arsenal supporters will hope key names such as Dean Henderson, Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta are all rested or limited to appearances from the bench.
Could Eberechi Eze’s Arsenal move impact the title race?
Yet there may be another reason why Crystal Palace delay resting important players until after Wednesday.
Part of Andrea Berta’s strategy when negotiating a fee for Eberechi Eze reportedly involved performance-related add-ons tied to the midfielder’s success at Arsenal.
One of those clauses is believed to be worth around £10 million if the 27-year-old wins the Premier League during his first season at the Emirates Stadium.
That creates a fascinating scenario.
It means Palace could theoretically cost themselves millions if they take points off Arsenal on the final day.
Alternatively, they could travel to the Etihad on Wednesday 13th May with a huge financial incentive to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side. Will you be fervently supporting Palace Gooners, just as Pep did the Hammers?
Steve Parish will surely understand the stakes
I am not suggesting footballers suddenly become motivated by transfer clauses they may never personally benefit from. Most players will still receive their wages regardless, while Glasner himself is reportedly entering the final weeks of his contract.
When people are potentially preparing to leave their jobs, they are usually less focused on helping employers financially.
Steve Parish, however, will almost certainly understand the wider implications.
Do not be shocked if Palace’s owner reminds everyone exactly what is at stake before their trip to Manchester. Perhaps there is even the promise of bonuses if they return from the Etihad with a positive result.
Football creates strange situations sometimes.
There is no reason why, on May 24th when the Gunners visit South London, that everybody cannot end up happy.
Arsenal lift the title and, before heading home, maybe send Mr Parish a thank-you card along with a very large cheque.
Dan Smith
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Isn’t that a conflict of interests? Why would Palace do themselves out of 10 mil and risk wearing their players out, when they play us? I doubt Bertha thought this game could be so important that it could decide the prem, but it can not be right, that Palace winning, could tire, risk or compromise their players and lose 19 mil. But losing could give them a big financial boost, so why play players and risk them?
10 mil, not 19.
Checkmate in next two moves!!!
Love it!
I hear there may be a possible similar clause on Guehi’s sale to Man City.
Win-Win for CRY.
Guehi doesn’t have that clause.
Wow! If it’s true, we’ll surely win EPL this season
Unfortunately, White can no longer play this season and Timber might be too unfit for the UCL final
If Arsenal need to be more attacking against Burnley, Saka could play inverted RB with Madueke in front of him
Saka played that role once under Arteta, when we needed to score in an EPL game
I think it’s taken for granted that Palace will prioritise their European game over everything else, and it could be irrelevant anyway, as we’ll probably have already won the Premier League by the time we face them.
I’d doubt that Palace will worry about the finances on this occasion. Surely winning the Conference league and its entry into the Europa League next season is more important. They’re not getting European football any other way.
Part of me wonders what Pep’s thinking. The FA cup final on Saturday is hardly meaningless and comes smack in the middle of a physically challenging end to the season. Does he go for broke tonight to put pressure on Arsenal or conserve his players for the cup final? That would mean a successful season for City with a double Is his current team good enough to win a treble?
Palace wont rest key players today. Reason being their cup final is 2 weeks away. You want to keep your main players sharp so you have to play them. Its only the last game of the season that I believe they will rest players.
I am a bit sceptical about this story.
Last summer, the fee was widely quoted as £60m plus £.7.5m in add ons.
Now just one of those clauses is worth £10m and it just happens to be about Arsenal winning the league?
Sounds like someone just made it up for clicks
Yep nabilo, it’s an extra £7.5m Palace recieve if we win the PL.
What if Man City offered a £20M if Guehi wins the league?
What if Man City offered a £20M if Guehi wins the league?
Palace have tripped up City before, but I just don’t think it will happen this time. With Arsenal it’s always the hard way.
People dismiss Burnley but I think the pressure for us and lack there of for them will make it much more difficult than it should be. If someone is tripping them, it’s Bournemouth
They do give city a run for their money! But all we need is win our two games, everything is dependent on us. Help along the way is just a bonus.
Am ain’t a stat guy, saw it somewhere last 10 games vs palace city won 5 , lost 2 and drew 3
OT.
Just seen the news of the passing of Peter Simpson, a great CB in our first Double season. RIP.
HD, wgere did you see this?
What a great player he was and, just like Ben White, he had no interest in football, especially after his playing days ended.
I always rated Peter as a far better player than he was ever given credit for.
One of my all time favourite players. RIP.
Ken, on the clubs website.
I only saw him play in the flesh from the 75/76 season when he helped us in our battle against relegation, but even then you could see he was a class player.
Just read it myself HD.
Peter was around the same age as myself, so one could say we grew up together at The Arsenal.
He was one of those players who just got on with the job, never caused controversy and was the most reliable player during Bertie Mee’s time as our manager.
The only player I can think of to compare him with, would be Gilberto and that’s a compliment to both of them.
Such sad news and I’m sure the club will recognise Peter’s contribution to our history at the upcoming Burnley game.
Sad news, have fond memories of watching Peter at Highbury in the 70’s, an uncomplicated player who did his job without any fuss. Unlucky not to have been capped by England, was in a few squads I seem to remember but didn’t get a game
Sad news indeed. I had my knitted red and white striped Woolly Arsenal scarf and he was one of the players whose name I embroidered on it. I was at the cup final with my dad in ‘71 and would occasionally (when allowed) to go with both my parents to Highbury. He was a long standing servant of the club and as you pointed out, never had a successful England career
I understand the sentiment but there is no reason for Palace to help Arsenal. They are an independent club with their own identity and pride. In the end of season run down, it’s up to Arsenal to comfortably win their two remaining games. Get a grip.
I think £10 million is enough incentive to try their best to take points off City.
I’m sure they will at least put out their best team and encourage them to perform well.
Also taking points off City is a big deal. City is a big Club
Sorry to hear of Peter Simpson’s passing. Sounds like he had a life beyond football, which probably meant family and friends. Who can beat that?
Sorry to be appear rude but I think many of the issues raised are pure hogwash! Arsenal and Crysral Palace are old rivals and their respective records are well known. Nobody is going to do Arsenal a favour apart from Arsenal itself. Arsenal is no Spurs which allowed itself to be beaten by Man city so as to deny Arsenal the EPL trophy but as the saying says, “What goes around comes around.” Spurs is now fighting for its Premier league survival! Arsenal played against West Ham but Arsenal’s interest was the trophy, not the Spurs diversion. That is the difference between a big team and a small one. A small team is moved by trivialities instead of serious issues. That is why it will take Spurs a long time to reach Arsenal’s level! Spurs wouldn’t mind being in the 19th position so long as Arsenal was the 20th! That is how perverted minds think. They have no positive purpose, except getting imaginary enemies! So the idea of Arsenal being done a favour by another team is completely wide of the mark.
You are not being rude but you are missing the significance? Palace (if true) are set to get an extra 10 mil if Eze wins the league this year. It has nothing to do with City v Pal. We play Palace 3 days before one of the biggest events in their history. 10 mil IS going to influence them, as regards risking players against Arsenal who could have to pay them 10 mil for Palace losing that game. And the double edge sword is what motivation has palace got, to lose 10 mil and risk their players getting injured before a big final 3 days later. So its not hogwash.
Honestly I don’t think that extra 10 million for the club will be an issue Glasner, the staff or the players are concerned about. It would be a nice bonus from the perspective of the club hierarchy though.
What will ABSOLUTELY be a critical consideration is ensuring they have a fully fit squad ready for the Conference League final. So I would expect some rotation regardless.
For Palace the 10 mil is huge. And you still are not getting the significance of that and the fact Palace have a huge game 3 days after playing us. With this so called clause for Eze.
@ DR
I do not think Spurs tried to loose the game a couple of years ago. It was a great save by Ortega on the day to deny Son scoring which had he failed would have meant AFC winning the title. However, in one way you are right in that the Spurs fans wanted their team to loose so that we could not win the title.
The other point you make is correct IMO, nobody is going to do us a favour towards winning the PL. We are only going to win it by our efforts or a bit of due luck.
Hard to defend thesedays the now begging Guardiola who persistently laments about refs, VAR, opponents, fixtures etc. Title has already GONE!
Haaland , Cherki and Doku all on the bench
Dan
I mentioned in a post this morning that I wondered what Guardiola would do tonight. 2 home trophies as a double, a treble or just the Carabao Cup.
Your third SueP. Chelsea have got back their key men in Colwill and James. For them a route to Europe. Forget the EPL it’s in NL.
O’Reilly not even in squad. Seems Guardiola is thinking of the FA cup
As Guardiola has now rested his key players for the FA Cup final so will do Glasner v Arsenal for the more lucrative Conference League final v Rayo Vallecano (10th) who already began resting their key players.
10 million myths. No such clause exists regarding Eze and winning the title (football.london). Title will be decided before the final week hopefully on Tuesday at Bournemouth.