When Eberechi Eze arrived at Crystal Palace in 2020, he pledged to entertain, and over the following five years he most certainly has done that and more.
No one can therefore begrudge Eze a move to Arsenal, but it was a crying shame that he wasn’t part of Crystal Palace’s first ever European game after he pulled out of their starting XI before they beat Norwegian side Fredrikstad 1-0 in their Conference League play-off first leg.
Oliver Glasner said at his pre-match press conference that Eze would start, but speculation developed throughout Thursday that something had changed – and this was confirmed when the Palace team sheet was conspicuous by Eze’s absence.
‘I expected that he would start today,’ Glasner said pre-match. ‘But he called me this morning and said he doesn’t feel well. Of course I have to accept it and everything else, ask the chairman.’
When pressed further on how he felt, Glasner added: ‘We don’t like to change the starting XI on matchday, especially in this situation when it is the first time of European football for Crystal Palace. We have to deal with it and this is what we do in the best way.’
Whatever Palace’s European journey is this season – alongside the FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs – it will be a legacy of Eze’s transformative impact over five years in south London where he has developed into a Premier League star and England international – and it was heartening to see the love displayed for him around the ground despite his absence.
It was a crying shame that Eberechi Eze was missing on Thursday, with star on the brink of a shock move to Arsenal
But spectre of the wantaway star hung over proceedings despite him not being on the pitch
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Nevertheless, in among all the noise surrounding his future and that of Palace skipper Marc Guehi, who is wanted by Liverpool, there was the potential to take attention away from this being Palace’s first ever game in European football.
But the home fans made sure that wasn’t the case by creating a raucous atmosphere, while the Conference League anthem was booed and followed by regular chants of ‘F*** UEFA, F*** Marinakis’ after Palace’s demotion from the Europa League to the benefit of Nottingham Forest.
The hosts started well and showed no sign of nerves although they were perhaps not used to having so much possession as they battled to break down Fredrikstad’s deep block.
Jean-Philippe Mateta struck the post and Ismaila Sarr forced Martin Borsheim into a good save yet at half-time for all their control, there was a sense that Palace were missing a creative player of Eze’s ilk.
There were concerns a frustrating evening could be a glimpse into life after Eze and as his replacement in the starting XI Justin Devenny headed over from six yards out, that rang true.
Oliver Glasner told the media that Eze had called him claiming illness before the match
Marc Guehi is another star that Glasner may not be able to call upon for future European ties
Fans also made their thoughts on UEFA unavoidably clear after their relegation from the Europa League due to rules around multi-club ownership
Jean-Philippe Mateta was still the man for the big occasion in front of goal as he supplied the difference-maker
But when Will Hughes’ shot was deflected back to him, the midfielder fired in another effort and the increasingly talismanic Mateta diverted the ball home, sparking jubilant celebrations.
Palace’s patience had paid off and it felt only a matter of time before they added a second, with Daniel Munoz going closest when he also hit the post. Yet Fredrikstad held firm – and almost equalised with the last kick of the match – to ensure this tie would still be alive heading into next week’s second leg in Norway.