Eddie Nketiah joined Crystal Palace from Arsenal in the summer and believes it was the “right moment” to make the move, as he believes he will be afforded more opportunities to showcase his talents as a goalscorer. Palace face Liverpool live on TNT Sports with the striker looking to kick-start both his and the Eagles’ slow start to the Premier League season.
Eddie Nketiah says he is looking to keep the “aggression” he took from his cage football upbringing as he aims to help jump-start the Eagles’ season with a visit from Liverpool to Selhurst Park.
Palace host the table-topping Reds in Saturday’s early kick-off, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, and Nketiah is hoping to help his new side to a first win of a stuttering Premier League season so far.
The striker joined the South London club from Arsenal in the summer and believes the move will help him continue to improve as a player.The 25-year-old found the back of the net 38 times in seven seasons for the Gunners having graduated from the Arsenal academy, but found first-team opportunities limited at the Emirates.
“I’d been at Arsenal a long time,” Nketiah told TNT Sports. “11 years, so I think it was the right moment for a change for myself.
“It was a wonderful opportunity and project for me to come here and develop and keep improving and have more opportunities to play a bit more regularly.
“I’m really happy with my choice. I’m here at a great club, with a great manager, great facilities. I’m going to try my best to help the club and continue improving as a player.”
Nketiah opened his account for his new club in a League Cup win over QPR earlier in the season, but is still waiting for his first Palace league goal.
The striker is also acutely aware of the need not just for his own goals, but also to help Palace climb the table, with his team having drawn three and lost three of their opening five games this season.
“It’s good to get off the mark but I’m always looking forward,” Nketiah said.
“We want to start picking up points, getting wins and hopefully, we can start with that with the game on Saturday.”
Nketiah began his career playing for Chelsea at youth level before being released and moving to Arsenal as a teenager, where he progressed to the first-team squad.
However, he often found himself behind other strikers in the pecking order, which ultimately led to his move to Palace.
Nketiah says he remains determined to succeed at the highest level and discussed the need to balance his competitive edge, which he attributes to his days playing cage football as a youngster, with patience to finally fulfill his goals.
“Everyone that knows me knows how much I love to win whether its cards, FIFA, Connect 4, I’ll do anything to win and that is what really drives me,” he said.
“It’s my hunger to always succeed. I try to keep that bite on the pitch. Off the pitch I think I’m quite cool, relaxed. But on the pitch I want to be aggressive, make my mark in games.
“I try to keep it controlled but that’s just how we play. In the cages, you can’t afford to be soft, there’s no referee coming to save the day.
“You need that aggression and think it’s stayed with me throughout my career.”
He added: “There are going to be bumps along the road. It’s accepting that everyone’s journey is different.
“There might be times when you’re doing well but not playing as much as you like. But it’s all part of football and just making the right decisions at the right time and applying yourself.
“What you can control is so important to make sure you are doing the right things at the right time and when the opportunity comes, you make sure you’re in the right shape to take it.”
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