Eberechi Eze is set to be the next arrival of a big-spending summer at Arsenal. But why does Mikel Arteta want the Crystal Palace star, and does he really need him?
Why do Arsenal want to sign Eberechi Eze? Crystal Palace star's best position, Gunners past explained originally appeared on The Sporting News
Eberechi Eze is on the cusp of becoming the seventh signing of a busy summer transfer window at Arsenal.
Crystal Palace favourite Eze is assured of a hero's welcome after reportedly turning his back on interest from Tottenham in favour of a £67.5million switch to their north London rivals.
The 27-year-old England international has been a darling of neutrals for a few seasons now, easily one of the most watchable players in the Premier League.
But does that necessarily mean he is a signing who can get Arsenal over the top to secure the title they crave after three successive second-place finishes?
MORE:Has Mikel Arteta spent £1 billion at Arsenal? Every Gunners transfer since December 2019
Why do Arsenal want to sign Eberechi Eze?
There is a sense that the time is now for Arsenal to strike if they are to win the Premier League. Eze will reportedly be the latest addition in a summer outlay approaching £250 million.
Liverpool cantered to the title last season and have made expensive additions to their squad, while a newly upholstered Manchester City team got off to an emphatic start with a 4-0 win at Wolves last weekend.
However, despite their own new additions, Arsenal have arguably the most settled squad. Eze, Viktor Gyokores, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke are hoped to be players that will add the extra quality required to make them champions.
A year ago, Arteta would not necessarily have viewed the left wing as a position to strengthen. But form and fitness struggles for the men in possession during 2024/25 prompted a rethink.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scored eight Premier League goals apiece and, with 10 each overall, were Arsenal's joint-third top scorers behind Kai Havertz (15) and Bukayo Saka (12) in all competitions.
Eberechi Eze best position, style of play
Eze typically plays as the left-sided attacker in a 3-4-3 for Palace and is expected to play on that wing for Arsenal initially, although he is a more versatile option than either Martinelli or Trossard.
Playing on the left for a Palace team that often enjoys ample room to break and play in transition is a very different gig to what will await Eze in an Arsenal team that often dominates possession against deep-lying defences. We could see something similar in terms of acclimatisation to when Jack Grealish swapped Aston Villa for Manchester City.
The arrival of Gyokores means Arteta can potentially ask different things of his wingers, who will no longer have to get up and ahead of a false nine as they did last season. Eze's comfort when it comes to receiving the ball deep and carrying it forward could come in hand with Gyokores as a focal point driving the attack ahead of him.
Eze also has the capability to play as a central attacking midfielder and the prospect of lessening the creative burden placed on Martin Odegaard is appealing. Arsenal frequently looked lumpen and one-dimensional when their captain was unavailable or out of form last season. In the 2024/25 Premier League, Eze matched Odegaard's eight assists and created 58 chances to the Norway playmaker's 63. On Opta's 'big chances' metric, Odegaard had 13 to Eze's 11, again leaving little to choose between the players.
One complication here could be the fact that Declan Rice's favourite position at Arsenal has been on the left of the midfield three, which is probably the spot best suited to Eze if he doesn't play as an out-and-out winger.
MORE:Now or never for Arsenal? Why Mikel Arteta must get the job done in 2025/26 Premier League
Did Eberechi Eze play for the Arsenal academy?
Eze was a member of Arsenal's youth academy before being released at the age of 13.
“It’s one of the hardest battles I’ve had,” he told BBC Sport in a feature before May's FA Cup final, when Eze scored the only goal as Palace stunned Manchester City 1-0.
“Because of what Arsenal meant to me at the time, I had tears rolling down my face.”
How much will Arsenal pay for Eberechi Eze?
An overall value of £67.5 million has been attributed to the Eze deal. According to Sky Sports, this will break down into a guaranteed £60m to Palace, plus £7.5 million in performance-related add-ons.
A report by The Guardian claimed that Palace had agreed a deal of the same overall value with Tottenham but with less than the £60 million they wanted up front. Arsenal took this as their opportunity and will guarantee a higher proportion of the fee than their neighbours were willing to.
Eberechi Eze contract, salary at Arsenal
Details are yet to emerge over Eze's proposed Arsenal contract. He has two years left to run on his Crystal Palace deal.
Capology reports that he earns £100,000 per week — a figure on which he should enjoy a considerable uplift after moving to the Emirates Stadium.
Category: General Sports
