Eddie Nketiah has revealed that he received congratulatory texts from staff at his former club Arsenal after netting the last minute winner against Liverpool. His comments have sparked discussion about lingering ties between the forward and the Gunners’ inner circle, and have added a new layer of intrigue to a remarkable matchday moment.
Nketiah, who left Arsenal in August 2024 to join Crystal Palace after spending more than a decade in their youth setup and senior ranks, came off the bench to fire home a stoppage-time volley that deprived Liverpool of a perfect start to the season and propelled Palace to a 2–1 victory.
In the aftermath, the 26-year-old disclosed that “a couple” of Arsenal staff reached out to him via messaging.
“I had a few thank you messages to be honest,” Nketiah told reporters after the game. “Yeah, a couple of the staff messaged me, but I’m fully focused on life here and want to do well and help the team as much as possible.”
He added that the messages came from Arsenal personnel but stopped short of naming anyone explicitly. He also made clear that Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal head coach, was not among those who reached out after the match.
The revelation has underscored how Nketiah’s departure from Arsenal was not acrimonious, but rather a transition in which many ties remained intact. During his time at Arsenal, Nketiah graduated through their Hale End academy and eventually made over 100 first-team appearances, notably scoring last-minute winners on multiple occasions.
His move to Palace came with expectations of fresh opportunity, but also carried a sense of emotional weight—he later spoke about the difficulty of leaving a club that had shaped much of his career.
Marc Guéhi assist, Eddie Nketiah finish.
Beating Liverpool to remain unbeaten right at the end. Scenes.
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— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) September 27, 2025
From Arsenal’s perspective, the texts likely reflect a respect for the competitive nature of the Premier League and perhaps a tacit acknowledgement that Nketiah’s goal—while decisive for Palace—also had indirect benefit for Arsenal’s title ambitions.
With Liverpool dropping points, Arsenal had the opportunity to narrow the gap at the top. In that light, the messages may have been less about personal sentiment and more about football pragmatism.
Yet the gesture remains telling. It is relatively rare for former clubs to formally acknowledge a player who has moved on in such a public way. Nketiah’s comment that only Arsenal staff—not the head coach—sent messages is likely deliberate, suggesting that while he retains personal relationships within the club, the professional lines remain drawn.
The win itself was dramatic. Palace led through Ismaïla Sarr’s early goal before Federico Chiesa equalised for Liverpool in the 87th minute. Enter Nketiah: deep into stoppage time, Marc Guéhi flicked on a long throw, Nketiah controlled and volleyed past Alisson, sending Selhurst Park into euphoria.
A tense VAR check followed, but the goal stood. The result handed Liverpool their first defeat of the campaign and made Palace the only unbeaten side in the league.
Palace’s resurgence under manager Oliver Glasner has been a key storyline this season. The club extended its unbeaten run to 18 games (a club record–equalling mark) and has already captured silverware in recent months, including the FA Cup and Community Shield.
Nketiah has praised Glasner for creating a group culture of togetherness and ambition, saying, “I feel like we’re all fighting, we all want to push and do well.” At Arsenal, by contrast, Nketiah’s opportunities had been more limited. Though he produced moments of brilliance—particularly as a substitute—he often found himself behind more established forwards in the pecking order.
Over time, he became emblematic of players who excel on the margins—ready to make an impact when called upon. His departure was understood to be in pursuit of more regular first-team football.