Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke are looking shadows of their former selves says Paul Merson.

Despite a relatively positive start to the Premier League season for Crystal Palace, both Zaha and Benteke have underwhelmed, most recently in the Eagles' 4-0 humbling at Tottenham Hotspur.

Former Arsenal, Portsmouth and Aston Villa man Merson believes the Ivorian is frustrated at the club and that a failed move away during the summer has contributed to his demise.

Arsenal and Everton were both eager to land the 26-year-old in the summer but Palace rejected approaches for the attacker despite Zaha handing in a transfer request.

Following the defeat in north London where a Heung-Min Son brace, a Patrick Van Aanholt own goal and Eric Lamela’s first half strike inflicted the second defeat of the season on Roy Hodgson’s side, Merson was quick to highlight the dip in Zaha’s game.

“You look at it and Zaha had one shot straight at the keeper,” said Merson.

“Every time he got the ball they fouled him.

“Every single time he got the ball they fouled him.

"It must be frustrating for him, playing at Palace and I don't want to sound disrespectful, but he's better than that, it seems like he has to do it all on his own."

Merson’s observation is backed up by the fact that the former Manchester United man has yet to register a goal or assist this season in five outings, compared to the ten goals and ten assists last year.

READ:Gary Cahill on Crystal Palace's defeat to Tottenham Hotspur

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'Feel for the lad'

Another man Merson sympathised with was former Liverpool and Villa forward Benteke.

The Belgian has split opinion at Selhurst Park since his £27million move from Anfield in 2016.

With 21 goals in 91 games for Palace, Benteke has seen game time hard to come by over the last two seasons with injury and the emergence of Jordan Ayew this campaign limiting his chances.

He has featured in every game this season, but is yet to register a goal, a far cry away from the forward Aston Villa signed from Genk in 2012, where he scored 42 league goals in 89 appearances for the Villa Park outfit.

“You feel for the lad,” Merson said.

“You're talking about a lad who was unplayable when he was at Aston Villa, now he's that low, he could walk under a snake with a top hat on.

“It's just unbelievable at the moment, unbelievable.

“It's a shame."

Crystal Palace welcome Wolves to Selhurst Park on Sunday.