‘He has more ability than a lot of people realise’ – Arsenal youth expert delivers verdict on Eddie Nketiah’s Crystal Palace switch

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

Eddie Nketiah could be in line for his first start appearance when Crystal Palace host Leicester City as the Premier League resumes following the international break.

The 25-year-old joined the Eagles on deadline day in a deal that could rise to £30million in add-ons – Palace’s second-highest outlay on a transfer in the club’s history.

Lewisham-born striker Nketiah put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Selhurst Park and has been a long-term target of sporting director Dougie Freedman.

Nketiah has spent his entire career at Arsenal apart from a half-season loan at Leeds in 2019-20.

He scored 38 goals in 168 senior appearances for the Gunners. After making his top-flight debut in 2018, Nketiah made just 38 Premier League starts for the Gunners.

Nketiah joined the north Londoners at 14 following his release from Chelsea and progressed through their academy with an impressive goal record.

The poacher scored 39 goals in 39 U18 appearances and notched 27 times for the U23s.

He featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly for the Eagles against Reading during the international break, playing as a striker and a number 10.

The South London Press spoke with Jeorge Bird, who runs the Arsenal Youth website and has more than 65,0000 followers on X, to gain an understanding of what type of player Crystal Palace have signed:

WHAT STOOD OUT ABOUT NKETIAH AT YOUTH LEVEL?

“I first heard about him 10 years ago. He was playing in the U18s, above his age group, and he started to score in almost every game.

“He grew in confidence all the time. You have a lot of youth strikers who can score a lot of goals but he had something different about him – he had such confidence and determination. He always looked to keep developing and making an impact.

“He was up against players such as Donyell Malen, but he still rose to the challenge and kept on progressing. He got into the U21s and managed to carry on scoring.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING ARSENAL’S YOUTH SYSTEM AND WHERE WOULD NKETIAH RANK?

“I have been watching them for 15 years. He would definitely be in the top 10. There is something different about him. He always seemed like someone who had a chance of getting into the first team, which is a feeling you don’t get with a lot of youth team players.”

OLIVER GLASNER LIKES TO SET UP WITH TWO ATTACKING 10s, WITH JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA’S FORM, DO YOU THINK NKETIAH COULD DO THAT ROLE?

“He had a couple of U21 games there – he did quite well. In the last couple of years his ability to pick up the ball in tight spaces has developed quite well.

“He has other qualities that maybe he hasn’t had the chance to show. He can drop deep well and link up play quite well. If he plays with physically stronger players as well, he can develop further in that way.

“His all-round game is really good – it’s just been a bit restricted in recent years because he has had that many chances.

“He was always really good technically – he has become even better in the past few years.

“He had really good close control and was a lot faster than most of the youth players. His talent shone through.”

THOUGHTS ON THE MOVE?

“It’s always disappointing when an academy graduate leaves, but for him, for more than a year, he has really needed to play regularly.

“It seemed really unlikely that he would happen at Arsenal, especially with Kai Havertz playing as a striker and Gabriel Jesus as well.

“If he stayed this season, it would have been frustrating for him. Crystal Palace can be a really good move for him – he can score a lot of goals if he plays regularly.

“He could look to get back into the England squad eventually. He needs to play now.

“Because he hasn’t had much of a chance at Arsenal to start consecutive games that often, he has more ability than a lot of people realise.”

HOW DO YOU THINK NKETIAH WILL GET ON AT PALACE?

“He will relish the responsibility of being the main player in a team.

“He has scored a lot of goals against big teams – he knows the Premier League already.

“He seemed to have a really strong connection with Arsenal and understood what it meant to play for the club, but it was the right time to leave.”