Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest in their first Premier League match since selling Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, with manager Oliver Glasner insisting the club “already found” the man to fill his boots.
Eze was unveiled at the Emirates on Saturday night ahead of Arsenal’s 5-0 thrashing of Leeds United, sealing a deal worth up to £67.5m. Palace had resisted Tottenham’s advances but could not prevent the 27-year-old from joining Mikel Arteta’s side.
The midfielder’s departure leaves a huge void: he scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists last season and delivered the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Glasner: “We Already Found the Right One”
Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest — where Ismaïla Sarr scored Palace’s opener before Callum Hudson-Odoi equalised — Glasner made it clear Palace are close to finalising Eze’s successor.
“If you lose one of your top stars who had 14 goals and 12 assists, it’s pretty clear you need to replace him with a starter. This is what we are looking for. I’m pretty sure we will find the right one. Or we will get the right one done, let’s say it more like this. Because we already found the right one.” — Oliver Glasner, post-match
Glasner stressed that the club are not simply padding the squad: “It’s not about adding someone… we want to be competitive in the Premier League, in European football, in the cup competitions.”
Remembering Eze’s Palace Legacy
Eze departs Selhurst Park after 169 appearances, scoring 40 goals and adding 28 assists. He became a fan favourite for his ability to turn games in crucial moments, none bigger than his FA Cup final winner at Wembley in May.
Glasner paid tribute to his former talisman:
“Ebs is a fantastic guy. In crunch time, when we needed him, he was here — and this is what great players are doing. Great players never hide in important situations. You can count on them.”
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest — Match Stats (24 Aug 2025)
| Stat | Crystal Palace | Nottingham Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.10 | 0.93 |
| Big Chances | 2 | 2 |
| Total Shots | 8 | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 1 |
| Shots off Target | 4 | 7 |
| Shots Inside Box | 7 | 8 |
| Shots Outside Box | 1 | 1 |
| Hit Woodwork | 1 | 1 |
| Blocked Shots | 0 | 1 |
| Goalkeeper Saves | 0 | 3 |
| Corner Kicks | 1 | 3 |
| Passes | 377 | 514 |
| Tackles | 20 | 12 |
| Fouls Committed | 11 | 11 |
| Free Kicks | 11 | 11 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 | 3 |
source: sofascore match data – 24 August 2025
Analyst Verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William:
“Glasner has handled the transition well, acknowledging Eze’s importance while signalling to supporters that Palace have a plan. Dropping the line ‘we already found the right one’ will fuel transfer speculation immediately.”
“Replacing Eze’s creativity is no small task. Palace’s ability to stay competitive in Europe hinges on whether Glasner and the recruitment team actually land that ‘right one’ in time.”
Key Insights
- Eberechi Eze sold to Arsenal for up to £67.5m.
- Oliver Glasner: Palace have “already found” his replacement.
- Ismaïla Sarr scored in 1-1 draw vs Nottingham Forest.
- Eze leaves with 40 goals, 28 assists in 169 appearances.
- Glasner praises Eze’s “crunch time” mentality.
What’s Next for Palace?
With the Conference League play-off second leg looming, Glasner wants clarity in the transfer market. Palace’s fans will eagerly await the unveiling of the new attacking star, with Glasner hinting a deal is already lined up.
Palace face Bournemouth next weekend in the league, and Glasner will hope Sarr, Olise, and whichever new recruit arrives can help offset the loss of their former No.10.
Who should Crystal Palace sign as Eberechi Eze’s true successor?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 25 Aug 2025 08:03
Not going to be able to replace him, they even havent replaced Olise. I mean this guy is a manager where it seems like only him and conte get that 3 at the back work. I truly believe in his ability to get the results with or without Eze. People just dont stand still how amazing his work is and what he's doing currently with Crystal Palace
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