Gabriel Jesus Ready To Start For Arsenal In EFL Cup Clash With Crystal Palace

Gabriel Jesus is set to be available from kick-off as Arsenal host Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, with Mikel Arteta confirming the forward is ready to start after building fitness through recent substitute appearances in the Champions League and Premier League.

Arsenal already hold the edge in this cup tie on recent form between the sides. The Gunners have taken seven wins from their last eight meetings with Palace in all competitions, drawing the other, and earned a 1-0 Premier League victory over the Eagles earlier this season.

The clubs shared this stage of the EFL Cup last season as well, when Jesus struck a hat-trick at the Emirates Stadium in a 3-2 success. Palace did knock Arsenal out of the 1970-71 EFL Cup, but

the Londoners have since won all three cup meetings, including both legs of the 1992-93 semi-final.

Jesus returned earlier in December during Arsenal’s Champions League win against Club Brugge after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, then featured from the bench against Wolves and Everton. Arteta was asked whether Jesus is now ready to start and replied: "Yes, he is. And you can tell that, you can see now, not only in games, every day in training, how much he wants it.So he's going to deserve a chance soon. "

Arteta has spoken about the wider effect that Jesus has on Arsenal’s attacking structure and dressing-room mood. The manager highlighted the forward’s ability to link with team-mates, unsettle defenders and raise confidence across the squad, stressing that Arsenal intend to benefit from that influence again now the Brazilian is available.

"I think that's probably the biggest quality of Gabi, bringing people together,connecting with people, generating a lot of uncertainty in the opponent. It's been a really intense journey, When he joined us, he lifted the belief, the spirit and the energy of the club and the team. He gave something very different to what we already had and it was really impressive. And then he had some very bad injuries that hasn't allowed him to have the consistency that we need from a very important player. But he's back, he's fighting his spirit, he's decided to always prepare the best way. He's unbelievable and the team has got it now and we need to use it. "

The following figures outline recent key statistics for this EFL Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Crystal Palace:

Fine-tuning for the tie continued at Sobha Realty Training Centre, where Arsenal completed their final preparations before facing Palace.

Fine-tuning for Tuesday The best photos from Sobha Realty Training CentreArsenal (@Arsenal) December 22, 2025

Crystal Palace arrive at the Emirates Stadium with an EFL Cup threat of their own in Eddie Nketiah. Since first playing in the competition in October 2017, no player has scored more EFL Cup goals than the Palace forward, who has 13 strikes and could again be central to the visitors’ chances.

Palace’s weekend defeat to Leeds United exposed issues from dead-ball situations, with four goals conceded from set pieces. Glasner is expecting similar moments against Arsenal and said: "I think the game will be different to [Leeds]. Again, we will have a few set-pieces. I know that we can do it better, and it's also not always talking about big problems," said Glasner.

Full focus for the Emirates Stadium pic.twitter.com/npGKrghqenCrystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 22, 2025

Glasner stressed that Palace’s coaching staff must help the squad improve in this area, adding: "We have to do it better. We have to give the players solutions. That's the job of myself and my staff. And then well give them the confidence that they can defend it and also score goals. We won against Brentford with two set-piece goals, and defended there very well. Theyre a team that's really good in set-pieces. It's always a good challenge, and if we take this challenge, we can grow and learn from it. This will be our approach. "

With Arsenal aiming to continue their strong record against Palace and Jesus pushing for a first start in over a year, while Nketiah and set plays offer clear threats for the visitors, both clubs enter this EFL Cup quarter-final with defined strengths and areas to manage under knockout pressure.