Selhurst Park isn’t just a Premier League football ground, but the heart of a vibrant and diverse community, stretching back a century since Palace’s arrival in 1924. Find out more about the incredible history of Selhurst Park.

100 Years of Selhurst Park

## South London and Proud

> Born in Greenwich, south London, Eberechi Eze joined Palace in summer 2020 as a landmark signing and has since established himself as a leading attacking talent in the Premier League.

Eberechi Eze signed a five-year contract with Crystal Palace F.C. in August 2020, becoming the club’s second arrival of the summer transfer window.

The south London-born playmaker rose through the ranks at Queens Park Rangers after joining them in 2016. An FA Cup debut followed in January 2017 and later that year, Eze made 22 appearances in a half-season loan to Wycombe Wanderers.

Then still a teenager, the attack-minded youngster played a key role in the Chairboys’ promotion to League One that season, scoring five goals - including a brace against Cambridge United.

On his return to QPR, Eze established himself as a regular first-team player, being awarded the No.10 shirt and a three-year contract in 2018. He left the Hoops with 20 goals from 112 senior games, collecting Supporters’ Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Junior Hoops Player of the Season for 19/20 as well as being shortlisted for PFA Player of the Year.

Internationally, Eze has represented England at both Under-20 and Under-21 level, and was named in the U21 squad the same week he signed for Palace.

He made his Palace debut as an 81st-minute substitute against Southampton in September 2020, and scored his first goal for the Eagles shortly after, netting a Goal of the Month free-kick versus Leeds United.

Another sensational strike – this time against Sheffield United – earned Eze the club's Goal of the Season award for 2020/21. He finished the 20/21 campaign with six goals and four assists in 35 games.

The midfielder received a call from the England first-team, after his performances in 20/21, but was desperately unfortunate to suffer an Achillies injury two matches before the end of the season, keeping him sidelined for over six months.

Injury meant that the majority of 2021/22 was spent in recovery for Eze, but he returned in the latter part of campaign and scored his only goal of 21/22 in a 2-1 win away at Southampton – a well-taken finish.

The following season was Eze's finest in a Palace shirt to date, the playmaker establishing himself as a leading offensive talent in the Premier League.

The No. 10 featured in all 38 of the Eagles' Premier League games in 2022/23, coming into his own after the World Cup break, finishing the season with 10 goals – Palace's top scorer – and four assists to his name. He was at his mesmeric best during April 2023, scoring four times in Palace’s six games and earning a Premier League Player of the Month nomination.

In June, Eze became the 18th Crystal Palace player to represent England, coming on after 70 minutes of a 4-0 win over Malta – and even having an effort cleared off the line.

He made his 100th Premier League appearance for the club against Fulham in September 2023 and signed a new three-and-a-half year deal in November, extending his stay in SE25 until 2027.

His 2023/24 season was intermittently broken up due to injury, however he still managed to produce his best ever season in terms of attacking returns with 11 goals and four assists in 27 Premier League games. Eze also won the Goal of the Season award, as voted for by the fans, with his winner at Anfield in April 2024.

Eze's fine form towards the end of 23/24 saw him called up to the England squad ahead of the 2024 UEFA European Championship. He was also rewarded with his first start for the Three Lions in a 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in early June.

He made an impact off the bench on three occasions for England, helping the side to the final they finished runners-up in the 2024 UEFA European Championship.

QPR 2019/20

Supporters' Player of the Season

2019/20 Championship 

PFA Team of the Season 

Players’ Player of the Season

Junior Hoops Player of the Season

November 2020, January 2021, October 2022, April 2023, March 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

October 2022, April 2023, October 2023, December 2023

Crystal Palace Goal of the Month

Crystal Palace, 2020/21 (v Sheffield United) | Crystal Palace, 2023/24 (v Liverpool)

Goal of the Season

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**Summary:**

- Three changes for Palace from midweek Cup tie between two the two teams: Richards, Clyne and Kamada introduced.
- **6 – GOAL:** Jesus slams Arsenal into early lead after Palace fail to clear their lines.
- **10:** Lacroix heads over and Hughes pokes narrowly wide as Eagles respond instantly.
- **11 – GOAL**: Sarr bends Palace level with delightful low finish.
- **14 – GOAL:** Jesus picks out the top corner to restore Arsenal’s lead.
- **21:** Sarr plays in Mateta, but Raya gets down to deny the forward one-on-one.
- **37:** Gabriel heads against the crossbar.
- **38 – GOAL:** Jesus heads against the post and Havertz converts the rebound.
- **45+3:** Henderson gets down low to deny Martinelli before Lerma heads at Raya.
- **HT: Palace 1-3 Arsenal**
- **46:** Sarr’s diving header kept out by Raya.
- **52:** Arsenal ‘keeper then denies Mateta and Sarr in quick succession.
- **60 – GOAL:** Martinelli stabs home after Henderson denies Jesus.
- **84 – GOAL:** Rice finds the bottom corner for Arsenal’s fifth.
- **90:** Visitors run down the clock to secure the three points.
- **FT: Palace 1-5 Arsenal**

With the two teams having shared five goals in an enthralling Carabao Cup tie just three days prior, an entertaining match was always on the cards in South London.

Palace brought Chris Richards, Nathaniel Clyne and Daichi Kamada into their starting XI from that game – but unfortunately, it took the Eagles’ midweek tormentor, one of only four Arsenal players to retain their place, just six minutes to give them the lead.

A ball in from the right by Bukayo Saka was fortuitously deflected by Gabriel into the path of his namesake forward Jesus – scorer of all three of Arsenal’s goals in North London – and the Brazilian side-footed home with ease.

But as they did so earlier in the week, Palace mounted a fierce response. Within minutes, Will Hughes’ deep free-kick moments had found Maxence Lacroix near the penalty spot. Under pressure, the Frenchman headed over.

From the resulting goal kick, Arsenal looked to play out from the back and Hughes – pressing high – slid in to take the ball off Thomas Partey inside the box. He won it – and in doing so, poked narrowly wide.

And seconds later, Palace’s tidal wave of pressure paid off, a ball from the back from Marc Guéhi played square by Tyrick Mitchell.

The two quick passes gave Ismaïla Sarr space to run into, but he still had plenty of work to do from the corner of the penalty box, bending a beautiful low finish round Gabriel and into the far bottom corner, beyond David Raya’s despairing dive – the Senegal international’s fourth goal in his last seven matches.

Quite remarkably, Arsenal restored their lead with their next proper attack – and it was Gabriel Jesus yet again. After Palace struggled to deal with a visiting corner, Partey laid the ball off to the striker, who picked out the top corner with an emphatic finish.

Three goals in the opening 15 minutes had ignited an already fervent Selhurst Park, and the crowd were on their feet again mere minutes later when Sarr pinched the ball off Gabriel and played in the unmarked Jean-Philippe Mateta. Clean through, the striker’s shot was blocked low down by the advancing Raya, and the opportunity escaped him.

After a blistering start, it was little surprise that the pace did eventually simmer down – although Lacroix, just a fortnight after opening his Palace account in the same spot, was once again on the end of a Hughes corner kick, this time shouldering over the bar.

For all the entertaining football on show, set-pieces were providing most of the clear chances, as Gabriel was next to go close for Arsenal, heading square against the crossbar from the Gunners’ next corner.

Seconds later, the visitors led by two: Gabriel Martinelli was afforded too much space and clipped a cross in from the right which Gabriel Jesus met with a standing jump. His header trickled towards the bottom corner, hit the post, and presented Kai Havertz with the simplest goal of his career from a yard out.

That made for a sobering end to a half in which Palace had created their fair share of chances, but the visitors had simply been more clinical with theirs.

There would be one final opportunity before the half-time whistle as Jefferson Lerma attacked Clyne’s hanging cross at the far post, but he could only direct his header into the ground and straight at Raya.

Into the second-half, and Palace were quick out the blocks.

Kamada dropped deep to play Clyne into space, and his hanging cross was headed on by Mateta. Although the effort was mis-directed, Sarr reacted sharply, diving onto it and diverting the ball goalwards; Raya got low down once again to save.

The Senegal forward was proving a livewire, and was again alive to the opportunity when Raya could only parry Mateta’s powerful 30-yard effort five minutes later. Sarr jumped high to head the loose ball goalwards, but the Spaniard was equal to it once more.

Palace were still in the contest – until, unfortunately, the hour mark, when the visitors’ greater efficiency put the game to bed.

In the first instance, Henderson did superbly to deny Gabriel Jesus another hat-trick from close range, but when the ball came out to Declan Rice, his drilled effort across goal was diverted in by Martinelli.

The goal drew Palace’s sting, and try as they might, opportunities dried up inside the final 30 minutes.

With little over five minutes remaining, Rice added a fifth for Arsenal, finding the bottom corner with a swerving effort inside the box.

The Eagles will now look to bounce back on Boxing Day away to Bournemouth. 

**Palace:** Henderson (GK), Clyne (Kporha, 81), Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Lerma (Doucouré, 68), Hughes (Devenny, 68), Kamada (Nketiah, 61), Sarr, Mateta (Schlupp, 81).

**Subs:** Turner (GK), Ward, Chalobah, Agbinone.

**Arsenal:** Raya (GK), Timber (Merino, 86), Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly (Rice, 58), Partey, Odegaard, Havertz (Calafiori, 58), Saka (Trossard, 25), Martinelli, Jesus (Nwaneri, 86).

**Subs:** Neto (GK), Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho.

### As It Happened

Crystal Palace fell to a 5-1 defeat against an efficient Arsenal side at Selhurst Park.

Report: Palace beaten by Arsenal

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The manager told Palace TV: “You can see today how crazy football is sometimes, because when you compare today's half to the first-half at Emirates, it was far better today, but we were 1-3 down [today] and there we had one more than they had. 

“Many parts of the game, many parts of football we did really well, but one very important part, defending our box, we did terribly today.

“We conceded three goals in the first-half after crosses, and this is what we have to do better. A top team like Arsenal, they punish you if you give them too much space in your box. 

“That was the disappointing part today, but I think how we played, the goal we scored was amazing. The chances we created, how we pressed them in many situations was really good. But the crucial part is defending our box, and this was not good enough today.

“We wanted to make it a little bit more open, playing with more bravey, that’s why we could create several chances, but again, when you concede five goals, you can't win it.”

Palace’s goal came from Ismaïla Sarr, an excellent equaliser early in the first-half and the Senegal international’s fourth goal in the Eagles’ last seven matches.

Glasner noted: “He’s in great shape. He had two big chances straight after half-time, and getting the second, maybe you are back again, and this is also what top teams are doing. They get one chance and then game over with the fourth [goal]. The efficiency was really outstanding from Arsenal.

“Ismaila is getting better and better, and we are really delighted with his performances.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Palace’s supporters were once again loud and proud in the backing of their side, with Glasner saying: “Our fans are always important. 

“Even when we were down and the fourth goal killed the game, it was game over, but the fans stayed quite positive. I think everybody who goes home today feels the game didn't feel like a 1-5 defeat, but it's also something we have to analyse and to work on: when it's a little bit more open, we defend better. 

“Merry Christmas to all our fans and thank you for all the support. We have one more home game against Southampton in 2024. I am pretty sure that we will have a great support at Bournemouth and against Southampton.”


Oliver Glasner has given his verdict on Crystal Palace’s defeat to Arsenal on Saturday evening.

Glasner’s thoughts on defeat to Arsenal

Marc on a tough defeat 

Palace played their part in an enthralling first-half, creating plenty of chances, but found themselves 3-1 down at the break.

The Eagles continued to press after the interval - Ismaïla Sarr going close with a header that forced an excellent save from Arsenal keeper David Raya, but the fourth Gunners goal took the game away from Palace. 

For Guéhi, the difference between the two teams was epitomised by how the visitors took their chances.

"We're very disappointed," Guéhi told Premier League Productions. "It's not nice to lose the way that we did today. Heads are down but we have to go again.

"There's moments that we create for ourselves every single game. Today we didn't take them, and they did.

"I think tonight was about both boxes. We should have done better in our own box, so it's hard to say that you can create that many chances and say you can go on and score as many as possible. 

"When we look back on it we didn't defend well and playing a top team like Arsenal, you make any type of mistake, they will punish you.

"We have to take this game with a pinch of salt, look at the areas we can improve and go again. It's the Premier League – you have to go again."

Much has been made of Arsenal's threat from set-pieces throughout this season. But the skipper felt their second goal - which came from a corner - was more down to lack of concentration when defending, rather than being inevitable.

"To be fair, the goal they scored we should have done better with, when it was two versus two on the edge of the box, but we didn't follow our men on the second phase.

"Other than that I thought we actually dealt with their set-pieces quite well."

Captain Marc Guéhi says ruthlessness in both penalty areas made the difference after Crystal Palace suffered a disappointing night against Arsenal.

Guéhi: We have to go again

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Report: Palace beaten by Arsenal

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Marc on a tough defeat

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