It is still early in this Carabao Cup third-round tie and QPR's defenders are busy getting organised. Eze and Nketiah make the briefest eye contact and the grift is on: Eze quickly slides the ball into a vacant channel down the right side of the box, where Nketiah peels into space before unleashing a first-time shot through the goalkeeper’s legs.
It is Crystal Palace’s first glimpse of what to expect from their £25m summer signing, the second most expensive transfer in the club’s history. The understanding, the intelligence, the economy of effort: in one run and one touch, Nketiah shows the sharp edge he adds to a team.
He runs to the corner flag to unveil his phone-call celebration for the first time in a Palace shirt – the first time since his final Arsenal goal, almost a year ago, when he sealed a hat-trick against Sheffield United in the Premier League. Back then he was the man of the moment, having earned his first England cap a few days earlier, but what happened next is why he couldn’t stay at Arsenal any longer. Nketiah was dropped two games later and started only one more league game under Mikel Arteta all season.
“It was about me being happy,” says the 25-year-old. “I wasn’t unhappy – there were things I loved about the club, I’d been at Arsenal all my life – but at the end of the day, a football player wants to play football. Obviously only 11 can play and you have to respect the manager’s decision. But there comes a point when you have to think about your personal development.”
Nketiah’s was a familiar dilemma, especially among homegrown players at the top end of the Premier League, where squads are overflowing with talent. Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips fell out of the England picture while at Manchester City, Scott McTominay and Conor Gallagher were pushed out of Manchester United and Chelsea respectively this summer. Increasingly players are asking themselves: stay, or play?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 04, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 04, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Netanyahu's actions suggest he isn't interested in peace
One year on from the invasion led by Hamas terrorists that has been called the greatest trauma in Israel's history, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 taken hostage, Benjamin Netanyahu's government claims sudden success.
Nketiah has big aspirations back home in south London
Eberechi Eze ambles over to take the free-kick and as he does so, Eddie Nketiah scans his surroundings.
New case could transform transfer market like Bosman
Lassana Diarra is arguing Fifa rules breach EU labour laws
Carsley envisages 'creative' plan to combine star trio
England boss wants to play Palmer, Foden and Bellingham
Maguire salvages point for United in Portugese thriller
Super sub Harry Maguire’s stoppage-time header saved Manchester United’s blushes and potentially Erik ten Hag’s job as the Europa League clash with Porto ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
There is a big if when it comes to interest rate cuts...
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, said in an interview that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) could be \"a bit more activist\" in bringing rates down.
Delhi police seize record cocaine haul worth £640m
Delhi police have seized over 560kg of cocaine worth more than 65 billion rupees 643m) on the international market.
CIA reaches out to recruit agents in despotic regimes
The US Central Intelligence Agency has launched a new drive to hire potential spies in China, Iran and North Korea after a similar successful campaign to recruit Russians.
Nato chief visits Kyiv amid major Russian drone attack
Russian forces have launched a major drone attack on 15 Ukrainian regions, causing damage to energy infrastructure, residential buildings and schools.
Can war in the Middle East be won by military might?
Mike Crofts examines the balance of power across the region
