Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh has completed his move from The Gunners to newly-promoted Crystal Palace after Ian Holloway confirmed the deal during an interview after he saw his side lose 1-0 to Lazio in a pre-season friendly.
The Morrocan international has been out of favour at Arsenal for a long time now and even spent last season on loan at West Ham United, but the 29-year-old failed to make any kind of impact at Upton Park, so he returned to the Emirates Stadium.
However, he has now completed a one-year deal to Palace, who recently got promoted after beating Watford in the Championship Playoff Final back in May, and he is expected to be ready for the season opener as they host Tottenham Hotspur.
Chamakh signed for Arsenal on a free from French side Bordeux and despite scoring eight goals in his first nine appearances, he then fell down the pecking order after star-striker Robin Van Persie regained fitness and knocked him out of the starting line-up.
Holloway said: ‘I normally do okay with people whose careers are faltering. I love them up and work with them, and hopefully I can get him back to how he was after he joined Arsenal.
‘There was nothing wrong with him then when he scored eight in nine. But I wouldn’t fancy being Robin van Persie’s understudy, it can’t have been fun.’
