Sarr Shines in Crystal Palace's First European Home Win
Filling the void left by Eberechi Eze was always going to be a challenge.
The England midfielder departed Crystal Palace for Arsenal this summer, having scored 40 goals and provided 28 assists in 169 appearances across all competitions, including a historic FA Cup goal at Wembley that secured the club's first major trophy.
However, Senegalese forward Ismaila Sarr has stepped up admirably to fill Eze's shoes, netting eight goals in just 15 games this season.
His impressive performance, which included a brace, contributed to a 3-1 victory over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar on Thursday—marking Crystal Palace's first win in the Europa Conference League on home turf and reinforcing their status as title contenders.
Beyond his two goals, Sarr was a persistent threat throughout the match, showcasing his speed, skillful ball control, intelligent runs, and effective link-up play with forward Jean-Philippe Mateta.
He struck the post early in the game and earned a penalty when he was fouled by goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro, although Mateta missed the subsequent penalty kick. Sarr then had a header saved brilliantly before he managed to bundle the ball over the line just before halftime. He later added his second goal and Palace's third of the night after being set up by Mateta.
Former Palace defender Joel Ward praised Sarr's performance on TNT Sports, stating, "Sarr is in hot form. He adds so much to the team, and when he finds space to attack, very few can keep up with him. His composure throughout the game was impressive."
Ward further noted, "With the current formation and Mateta making deep runs, it creates space for the wide players and central attacking midfielders, which can be confusing for defenders."
Sarr has scored four goals in his last three appearances and is on track to match his seasonal total from last year, where he netted 12 goals across all competitions.
Crystal Palace acquired Sarr from Marseille for approximately £12.5 million in 2024, aiming to replace winger Michael Olise, who transferred to Bayern Munich that summer. This move now appears to be a savvy decision, especially with Eze's departure this year.
Manager Oliver Glasner referred to Sarr as "an important player" for the club, stating, "He is handling the pressure well. His pace and ability to make incisive runs are invaluable. He has consistently delivered great finishes, reminiscent of his goals against Brighton and Arsenal in the FA Cup last season. His speed creates opportunities for others, and he has performed exceptionally well."
With an English team winning the Conference League in two of the last three tournaments, Crystal Palace is among the favorites to add their name to that list this season. Following a surprising defeat to AEK Larnaka at Selhurst Park in their previous match, Glasner expressed the importance of the victory in front of their home crowd, saying, "I hope this won't be our last win at home. The atmosphere was fantastic, and I believe everyone left pleased with both the result and the performance."