Arsenal outcast could hand Liverpool title as Glasner admits he's 'sad' for him

Arsenal face Crystal Palace on Wednesday night in a crucial game that will see Liverpool named Premier League champions if the Eagles pull off a victory at the Emirates - and ex-Gunner Eddie Nketiah will hope to start against his old side

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has admitted he feels "sad" for striker Eddie Nketiah after his difficult season at Selhurst Park, but hinted he could start against old club Arsenal in a game that could see Eagles end the Gunners' title bid. Nketiah joined Palace from his boyhood club last summer for around £30million but has struggled to affect games.

The 25-year-old has only managed one goal in the Premier League, with five in all competitions. To his credit, he has only been handed seven starts by Glasner in the league and he has clearly had difficulty having an impact off the bench.

Glasner said he had sympathy for Nketiah after seeing his huge work ethic fail to bring results and conceded he had brought him into the action during difficult moments - including during the 5-0 loss to Newcastle.

In the previous game against Brighton, Nketiah was subbed on in the 68th minute but picked up two yellow cards in 10 minutes in yet another setback.

"It’s not time to sum up Eddie’s season now, but he’s so hard-working,” Glasner said. “Sometimes I feel a little bit sad for him, personally, when I see all his effort.

"For example, Newcastle he comes on when we’re 5-0 down. It’s the worst situation you can have as a player. I had this once in my career and I didn’t really like it. He had two or three chances. At the end he could score and then he slipped.

"It looks like, sometimes, things don’t go well for him. But I spoke to him afterwards, because I see him every day working. And there will come a day when he gets paid for all his effort. For me personally, it feels like they didn’t come now until now."

Glasner teased a possible start for Nketiah against his former club on Wednesday, where he could come back to haunt Mikel Arteta's side by scoring against them. Nketiah has already netted against his old side this season - in a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat back in December.

Should Arsenal lose the game at the Emirates, Liverpool will be confirmed as Premier League champions. "We still have some great games to play, and maybe this day when he gets the payback for all his effort will come soon," the German continued.

"I expect both teams entering the pitch to want to win the game. We expect they will play with their strongest team; they have six days [in between Wednesday and] their Champions League semi-final. We will play with the best available team tomorrow as well."

Nketiah joined Arsenal's youth set-up in 2015 and went on to play 168 times for the Gunners, scoring 38 times.