Eddie Nketiah has now left Arsenal.
Eddie Nketiah has moved on from Arsenal, having been on the books at the Emirates Stadium since 2015, when he joined the Hale End academy having been cut loose by Chelsea.
The striker went on to make 168 first team appearances for the Gunners, across all competitions, scoring 38 goals.
Crystal Palace have signed Nketiah, and the 25-year-old now faces the challenge of forcing himself into the starting XI at Selhurst Park, where he will be in competition with the in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta.
In truth, the writing has been on the wall for Nketiah for some time at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta clearly lost faith in the forward last season, as he slipped down the pecking order around the turn of the year, just as Kai Havertz began to shine as a striker.
The once-capped England international was reduced to a bit-part role in the second half of the campaign. Nketiah has been keen to leave Arsenal for some time due to his lack of game time.
This move will now give him the opportunity to prove that he can be the main man at Premier League level, starting games week in, week out.
However, he can still look back upon his time at Arsenal with pride, and recall some magic moments he enjoyed in red and white.
Eddie Nketiah at the double early on
During the 2017/18 season, Arsene Wenger handed Nketiah his first team debut as a late substitute in a Europa League clash with BATE Borisov. Only a few weeks later, he was introduced from the bench again, this time in the 85h minute of an EFL Cup tie against Norwich City, with the Gunners trailing as he entered the fray.
The young forward was able to poach two goals to turn the result on its head, send Arsenal through to the next round, and truly announce his arrival on the senior stage.
Hero moment against Manchester United
In January 2023, with Arteta’s side in the thick of a title chase, Manchester United were doing a good job of frustrating the North Londoners at the Emirates Stadium.
However, just as the match looking destined to end in a 2-2 draw, Nketiah was on hand to flick the ball in from close range at the death to claim a last gasp winner, and keep the Gunners’ title dream alive a while longer.
Nketiah strikes Premier League hat-trick for Arsenal
Nketiah began last season as a regular starter, and provided a couple of important goals early on in the campaign. His form was rewarded in early October as Gareth Southgate granted him his senior international debut, with Nketiah having previously racked up 16 goals in 17 caps at under-21 level for the Three Lions.
Later that month he made another statement by scoring a fantastic first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield United. His trio of goals included one especially eye-catching effort from range. That turned out to be his last Premier League goal for the club, and it wasn’t a bad one to sign off with.
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