Eberechi Eze has been denied the chance to play for Crystal Palace one last time before completing his move to Arsenal. The forward is on the verge of moving to north London after a £60million transfer fee was agreed between the two clubs. Eze was initially set to join Tottenham but Arsenal swooped in to beat their bitter rivals to his signature.
A medical has already been booked, with the move set to be officially announced in the coming days. Eze was initially expected to make his final appearance for Palace in their Conference League play-off against Norwegian side Fredrikstad on Thursday evening. It would have offered him the chance to say goodbye to the Selhurst Park crowd before joining Arsenal.
In spite of his wishes, Eze was not included in the matchday squad. He was keen to play in the fixture, according to GiveMeSport, and had been earmarked to start by manager Oliver Glasner.
However, it is said that Arsenal and Palace decided to withdraw him from the match, presumably due to the risk of him picking up an injury.
Eze will be hoping to shake off the disappointment of missing the game against Fredrikstad as he prepares to embark on the next stage of his career at Arsenal.
Their dramatic hijack of his proposed move to Tottenham came after Kai Havertz picked up an injury, forcing the Gunners back into the market for a new forward.
Eze usually plays as an attacking midfielder but former Arsenal defender William Gallas believes he may not be given regular minutes from the very start.
“I think he had a great season with Crystal Palace, but I don’t think he’d be in a starting role with Arsenal,” said Gallas. “He could be in the future, but I’m not sure if he would be straight away.
“It depends on what Arsenal want to do. If they want to win the league, they need starters. Playing for Arsenal, even off the bench, is a chance to end the season as a Premier League winner but it might mean you get less minutes.
“You can be a champion without starting many games or start every week for another club but not have a chance to win a trophy.”
Eze has lit up the Premier League over the last few campaigns and was a key figure as Palace won the FA Cup last season. He scored 14 goals and chipped in with another 11 assists for the Eagles in all competitions.
The former QPR man nearly opened his account for the season in Palace’s recent goalless draw at Chelsea, but saw his free-kick goal ruled out following a VAR intervention.
