Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze have had completely contrasting seasons.
Palmer will finish the campaign trophyless and will not be going to the World Cup with England after Thomas Tuchel left him out of his squad.
On the other hand, Eze was able to win the Premier League title and still has a chance to get his hands on the Champions League trophy. He has been included in the Three Lions’ 26-man group for football’s biggest tournament this summer.
But did Eze really deserve a call-up ahead of Palmer? Their stats make for very interesting reading.
Has Cole Palmer been wronged? Or is it just deserved for his poor form?🤔
Thomas Tuchel explains Cole Palmer snub from England's World Cup squad
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Cole Palmer’s and Eberechi Eze’s numbers similar despite Chelsea man playing significantly fewer minutes
Heading into the Premier League’s final round of fixtures, Palmer has outscored Eze in the English top flight and is level on goals with him in all competitions.
Palmer and Eze have both scored 10 goals this season, but the former has played fewer games and minutes.
According to Transfermarkt, Palmer has been on the pitch for 2,353 minutes, whereas Eze has racked up 3,246 minutes.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea and Micky van de Ven of Tottenham
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Eze has a few more assists than Palmer, but the above will have Chelsea supporters questioning why the Arsenal star has been included in the England squad instead of their talisman.
Overall, Palmer probably did not deserve to be selected, but you can easily say the same thing about Eze, especially when you consider some of the other names Tuchel has left out.
Morgan Gibbs-White deserved call-up over Cole Palmer and Eberechi Eze
Out of the attackers left behind by Tuchel, the one who can feel really hard done by is Morgan Gibbs-White.
He has also outscored Eze after netting 17 goals and has more assists (seven) than the former Crystal Palace man, too. Despite playing in a side who were threatened by relegation for the majority of the season, Gibbs-White has still managed to put up some really good numbers.
Morgan Rogers has been in terrific form this term and Jude Bellingham is a world-class player. They should produce for England, at least in the group stages.
If England’s attack falters, though, Tuchel is again going to have to defend his decision to leave the likes of Palmer and Gibbs-White at home.
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