Eddie Nketiah on his Crystal Palace bromance, playing No 10 and why he left Arsenal

Eberechi Eze ambles over to take the free-kick and as he does so, Eddie Nketiah scans his surroundings. open image in gallery Nketiah celebrates after scoring his first Palace goal, against QPR in the Carabao Cup “It was about me being happy,” says the 25-year-old. I like the way the club is, the morals they have.” Nketiah wears No 9 but he has started the last four Palace games in an unfamiliar new role under Austrian manager Oliver Glasner, playing as a wide-ish attacking midfielder alongside Eze – “two 10s in the left and right half-spaces,” he explains – supporting striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. I’m maybe getting a few more touches front facing, which is a strength of mine when I can dribble and run at opponents rather than always playing with my back to goal.” Palace are still searching for their first league win this season, but Nketiah is convinced it is just around the corner. He’s a very passionate person and really good at geeing up the boys before games, very motivating in his team talks.” Nketiah spent nearly a decade at Arsenal, winning the FA Cup, playing in the Champions League, scoring his first Premier League hat-trick and winning his first England cap – an “amazing” experience that he wants more of.