Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira provides Michael Olise injury update before Arsenal game

Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira says they will apply caution when dealing with the injury that has kept Michael Olise out of pre-season and the game against Arsenal.

The manager confirmed that Frenchman will miss the Premier League opener against the Gunners under the lights at Selhurst Park.

The young wide man arrived from Reading last season and immediately set the Premier League alive with his skill and technique. By the end of the season, he had played 26 games, starting 12 of them.

He also managed five assists and scored two goals as Palace finished an impressive 12th in the Premier League, with his contribution and efficiency also leading the team to the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley.

But the disappointing part of his development was the foot injury he picked with the France U21s.

Since then he has barely been involved and missed the all important pre-season that whips players into shape, something manager Patrick Vieira admits but they could have done without, but will need to manage carefully.

He told the press ahead of the Arsenal clash: “ Yes, it’s the same foot injury he picked with the French U21 team, but he has started working with the team today so he is getting there and he is looking much better now.

“We have a plan in place, and it is important for him to have a proper pre-season.

“We’re not going to rush him, we’re going to work properly because it is an important season for him, and it is an important season for us.”

Crystal Palace looking for a strong start

Vieira also admitted that they have had a difficult pre-season due to the fact that they had to split the squads into two, but were now working well going into the first game.

Last season, they took four points off the Gunners and they could easily have had all six with Vieira slamming his hand on the Emirates turf after the Gunners equalised late.

He will hope to continue his unbeaten run against his former side.

“We didn’t have the best of pre-season but we have been working well this week so we will see tomorrow,” he added.