Eberechi Eze was the creative heart of Crystal Palace because almost everything the team did in the final third flowed through his dribbling, shooting and chance creation under Oliver Glasner.
Numbers That Prove His Importance
- In his final full season at Palace, Eze delivered 16 Premier League goal contributions (8 goals, 8 assists) and took 102 shots, both career highs, while creating 58 chances – the most in the squad.
- Analytics show he averaged around 0.24 non‑penalty goals and 2.2 open‑play shots per 90, and sat in the 80th‑plus percentile for open‑play xG and shot volume among attacking midfielders, despite Palace having far less of the ball than top‑six sides.
- Data platforms rank him among the most “involved” players in matches, with high progressive carry and “initiating dangerous attacks” numbers – a statistical way of saying he started and finished a huge share of Palace’s moves.
Role in Glasner’s System
- Under Glasner’s 3‑4‑2‑1, Eze usually played as the left‑leaning No 10, drifting inside off the flank behind Jean‑Philippe Mateta.
- FA coaching analysis of the FA Cup run highlights him as part of the key counter-attacking trio with Ismaïla Sarr and Mateta, using his 1v1 ability to punish teams once Palace broke the press.
- He averaged about 80 minutes per league game and played virtually every minute of the FA Cup campaign, underlining that Glasner built the attacking structure around his availability and form.
The FA Cup Final: Creative Heart on the Biggest Stage
- Eze scored the only goal in the 2025 FA Cup final, volleying in Daniel Muñoz’s cross to give Palace a 1-0 win over Manchester City and the first major trophy in the club’s history.
- He finished the Cup run with six goals in five matches, repeatedly deciding tight knockout games and confirming his status as Palace’s big‑occasion match‑winner.
- Tactical breakdowns of the final describe him as the “catalyst” in transition, timing his runs to arrive unmarked and turning rare Palace attacks into decisive moments.
Why Everything Went Through Eze
Analysts who studied his Palace seasons repeatedly describe him as the “hub” or “creative engine” of the side:
- He received a high share of Palace’s final‑third passes, took set pieces, and was given licence to roam between the lines to link midfield and attack.
- His combination of dribbling, close control and shooting meant Palace could progress the ball simply by finding him, even when pinned back.
- Coaches’ reports note that, because of his attacking importance, he was allowed to conserve energy out of possession; teammates did more of the ball‑winning so Eze could decide games in the attacking half.
Legacy at Selhurst Park
- By the time he moved on in 2025, Eze had gone from a £17m signing from QPR to an FA Cup final match‑winner, European qualifier and one of the Premier League’s most coveted creators.
- His performances not only delivered silverware but also elevated Palace’s reputation, proving the club could develop and showcase an elite playmaker on the biggest domestic stage.
In short, between his league output, Cup heroics and tactical centrality under Glasner, Eberechi Eze was the player through whom Crystal Palace thought, ran and scored – the undisputed creative heart of the Eagles’ new golden era.
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