Craig Burley breaks down how the win was achieved. (1:18)
One is an academy graduate without a goal to his name all season, the other is a 97 million dollar signing to win the title. Eddie Nketiah, the 22-year-old making only his 13th top-flight start, is outshone by the other two players who are out of favour and may well be playing their football at different clubs next season.
After giving an interview in which he explained why he turned down multiple offers to stay with the club, Nketiah was given a chance to lead the attack with Lacazette still not fully recovered from Covid-19. He was able to seize his moment.
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Nketiah became the first player to score twice in this fixture for almost 11 years when he netted his first two goals of the season in the second half. In December, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel dropped the Belgium international after he gave an interview in which he spoke negatively about the club.
It was his first league start since February 19 and it was partly due to his outing in the first fixture, a goal-scoring debut that appeared to signal he would take English football by storm after two years honing his craft in Serie A. He touched the ball just 22 times, less than any other outfield player on either team, before being substituted on the hour mark to a mixed reception that contained a few boos.
When Kai Havertz isn't leading the line, it's a reminder of what happens when they lose their pressing game. The evidence from west London on Wednesday shows that he has plenty of work to do in order to be fit enough to start matches.
Mikel Arteta looked inward for an explanation for Nketiah's lack of usage this season, and applauded his young forward's commitment despite receiving few rewards for his dedication.
Arteta said that good things happen to good people.
If Eddie hasn't played more, then it's my fault. I haven't had the courage to play him, so if he hasn't played then it's because I missed something. He showed me how wrong I was.
Nketiah's interventions made a welcome change, as they have not been a team to take advantage of such moments of late. It was individual errors that cost them the game, not Arteta's shift to a three-man defence.
Nketiah was given an early chance by the woefully under-hit back-pass by Christensen, and he was able to slot a low finish past Mendy. Emile Smith Rowe struck a fine finish from the edge of the box after a fine move that culminated in a fine finish from the goalkeeper. Cesar Azpilicueta showed a strikers touch to poke home Mason Mount's cross to send the teams in level at the break, but they made the most of more defensive uncertainty, not eradicated by Thiago Silva's half-time introduction.
Nketiah got rewarded for his perseverance when he scored on 57 minutes. In the closing moments of the game, Azpilicueta gave away a bizarre last-minute penalty as a cross went behind the England player, but the captain still held the England player down, leaving referee Jon Moss with a simple decision. Azpilicueta was left to remonstrate with a fan after the full-time whistle in an incident conveying the ill-feeling around the Bridge after another disappointing night.
The crowd was reduced due to the U.K. government sanctions against Roman Abramovich, but it's not the reason for the third home defeat in a row. They have conceded four goals in back-to-back league games for the first time since 1989.
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Tuchel apportioned blame in all directions, including his own groundsmen.
The pitch is very difficult to play on and it is not in our favor. The ball bounces in front of him when he wants to play it. We made the same mistake against Real Madrid that cost us the next round of the competition, and this one cost us the next match. I don't recall when we got two goals like this.
There is no guarantee that Nketiah will continue this form, but he has surely earned the right to retain his place for the game against Manchester United on Saturday. They would leapfrog Spurs into fourth place by the time they kicked off at Brentford.
It says a lot about the vulnerabilities of every team below Manchester City andLiverpool that they can lose to Crystal Palace and still beat a team in the top half of the table. fringe players seizing their opportunity may be the difference.
Nketiah delivered the goods.
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