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Former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, has been labeled the Premier League’s ‘flop of the season’ following an unimpressive start to his Crystal Palace career.
Former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has been labeled the Premier League’s ‘flop of the season’ by ex-Premier League star Lee Hendrie. Nketiah, who joined Crystal Palace in the summer for a reported fee of £30 million, has struggled to make an impact at his new club.
Nketiah’s move to Crystal Palace was seen as a step up in his career, but the 25-year-old has failed to live up to expectations. He has yet to score a goal in the Premier League for Palace, managing only an assist in 13 appearances. His only goals for the club have come in the Carabao Cup, where he scored against Queens Park Rangers and his former team, Arsenal.
Hendrie speaking to 10bet pointed out that Nketiah’s lack of proficiency in the final third has been a significant issue. At Arsenal, Nketiah often scored from deliveries into the box, but Palace’s style of play, which doesn’t rely heavily on wingers, hasn’t suited his strengths. Hendrie believes that the system at Palace is partly to blame for Nketiah’s struggles.
Palace spent a significant amount on Nketiah to fill the void left by Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Edouard, but he hasn’t been able to alleviate the pressure on his teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta. Mateta has outperformed Nketiah, scoring four goals and providing one assist in 19 league games.
Despite the criticism, Hendrie remains hopeful that a tactical adjustment could help Nketiah regain his form. However, the former Arsenal striker will need to step up his game significantly if he wants to avoid being remembered as the ‘flop of the season.’
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