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Eberechi Eze's absence for Crystal Palace's first ever European game was a crying shame, writes WILL PICKWORTH - but their win against Fredrikstad is part of his legacy in south London

When Eberechi Eze arrived at Crystal Palace in 2020, he pledged to entertain, and over the following five years he most certainly has done that and more.

No one can therefore begrudge Eze a move to Arsenal, but it was a crying shame that he wasn't part of Crystal Palace's first ever European game after he pulled out of their starting XI before they beat Norwegian side Fredrikstad 1-0 in their Conference League play-off first leg.

Oliver Glasner said at his pre-match press conference that Eze would start, but speculation developed throughout Thursday that something had changed - and this was confirmed when the Palace team sheet was conspicuous by Eze's absence.