Heading into April, Crystal Palace have some tough games ahead on the fixture list.
Indeed, the Eagles have been handed a tricky set of games against Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter finals, while the Premier League isn’t slowing down in its intensity, either.
Oliver Glasner and Co welcome Newcastle United and West Ham United to Selhurst Park before the month is out, with a trip to Arne Slot’s crisis-ridden Liverpool then officially seeing out the bumper April slog of games.
The Austrian will be hopeful that he can steer the Eagles into the top half of the table before he walks away from South London for good at the close of the season.
He has been boosted by one first-team star who is showing hallmarks of the iconic Wilfried Zaha.
Wilfried Zaha’s legendary status at Palace
Zaha went through some journey when he was still on the books of the Eagles.
Starting off as a wide-eyed youngster attempting to cut his teeth in the EFL, slowly but surely, he became key to the way Palace ticked in attack, as they soared into the Premier League.
Noted as being a star who can “almost do anything” by ex-Palace boss Ian Holloway, Zaha’s constant tricks and flicks down the flanks were also backed up by goals and assists aplenty.
In total, the 33-year-old attacker would pick up a stunning 90 goals and 54 assists for his boyhood club from a colossal 458 appearances, with Palace chairman Steve Parish rightly heralding him as “the greatest player in the club’s history” when he left the building in 2023 for pastures new at Galatasaray.
Despite his one-of-a-kind ability, which saw Holloway also dub him a “freak of nature”, Glasner arguably has his own Zaha at Selhurst Park right now in another tricky winger.
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Crystal Palace’s new Zaha
Palace haven’t been firing on all cylinders in attack this season.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has struggled to be the forceful marksman figure he once was, with only eight Premier League goals next to his name this campaign.
This is where Ismaila Sarr has come to the rescue, as a brand-new Zaha-like presence, with consistent moments of magic from the ex-Watford star bailing the Eagles out of some sticky moments following his £12m move from the Hornets.
First cutting his teeth in England via the EFL, much like Zaha, the slick number seven is now a dependable Premier League regular in South London, who is further allowing Palace to live out their wild European dreams, with Glasner praising his ability to be “direct” and take on defences with gung-ho darts forward.
He has the goals and assists to back up his mazey runs, as well, with a stunning 15 strikes in all competitions this campaign, turning him into a “pivotal” talisman – as Palace-based social media account HLTCO has stated – like the revered Ivorian before him.
Sarr’s importance at Palace
Season
Games
Mins
Goals + Assists
25/26
32
2715 mins
15 + 1
24/25
47
3254 mins
12 + 8
Total
79
5969 mins
27 + 10
With 79 appearances under his belt, now, Sarr has the chance to solidify his status as a great at Selhurst Park if he remains rooted at Palace for the foreseeable future, with more and more goals and assists waiting to be added, to bump up his already hefty 27 goals and ten assists.
Before he leaves, Glasner will hope that the continued excellence of his new main man steers Palace further up the Premier League, and perhaps to Conference League glory.
Whoever takes over from the Austrian will surely love to work alongside such a dynamic attacker, with Zaha a firm fan favourite of every single Palace boss he worked alongside.
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