Arsenal said goodbye to some very popular faces in N5 this summer, a few players who many thought would become legends at the club.
Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe were the two heartbreakers in that regard, Hale End Academy graduates who were wearing the #14 and #10 shirts respectively at Arsenal.
Fortunately, after their departures, both Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have emerged in first team roles, two talents who now have the trust of Mikel Arteta.
Nwaneri played a crucial late role in the win against Tottenham and Lewis-Skelly did his best to keep Manchester City out at the Etihad.
And although it did seem like the right time for both Nketiah and Smith Rowe to leave, one pundit now believes that the former made a mistake.
Eddie Nketiah made the wrong decision joining Crystal Palace after Arsenal
Tony Cascarino, who had his fair share of experience playing in the English top flight, has commented on Nketiah’s move to Crystal Palace via The Times.
Arsenal recouped £30m for Nketiah this summer, funds which are yet to be reinvested into a replacement striker.
READ MORE: Arsenal duo Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz join unwanted club with Premier League first since 2004
And after watching Nketiah’s first few games in south London, Cascarino isn’t sure the striker made the right choice for his career.
Cascarino shared: “It was vital he chose the right club after leaving Arsenal but on this evidence I am not sure he has.
“He was fighting for headers and flick-ons in the right-back area. It felt unbalanced watching him play in that system.
“At Arsenal there were several occasions where he led the line superbly and looked a world-class forward so Palace have definitely bought a class act but they need to find a way to get the best out of him or he will stagnate and begin to suffer self-doubt.
“His dreams of being an Arsenal legend are over. Right now he needs a comforting arm around the shoulder and for the team to be set up in a way that allows him to recognise his importance to them.
“He must be looking across at his former team-mates now at Craven Cottage and noting how happy and relaxed they look playing in a system that suits them and allows them to flourish.”
Emile Smith Rowe is thriving at Fulham after summer move
As Cascarino mentions, Smith Rowe is having a much better time at Fulham, playing under Marco Silva who has made the Englishman his king-pin.
Nketiah sent a message to Smith Rowe after he scored another goal this weekend against Newcastle United, a midfielder who’s really enjoying his football.
But unlike Smith Rowe, Nketiah has been pigeon-holed into a system – he’s not going to be the central striker with Jean-Philippe Mateta around.
The England international will obviously still have plenty of chances to come good at Palace, but Cascarino is right to raise some early concerns.
That being said, Ian Wright questioned one call Mikel Arteta made during the 2-2 draw away to Man City on Sunday.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
