Why did Arsenal rush to sign Eze?

23/08/2025 07:07:00 soccer

Kai Havertz’s injury compelled Arsenal to strengthen their forward line. This probably explains why they quickly signed Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace for £68 million.

Prior to signing Eze, Arsenal had recruited two forwards: Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke. Combined with other choices such as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, and Leandro Trossard, not many believed Mikel Arteta’s squad would further bolster their attack.

Like a "heist"

Havertz’s knee injury turned out to be more severe than expected, forcing Arsenal to revise their plans since Gyokeres is their only true striker. The Swedish forward had only been at Emirates for less than a month, making it risky not to have a backup option. Moving one of the wingers, specifically Martinelli or Trossard, to be Gyokeres’ substitute means Arsenal needed additional cover for the winger positions. That’s why they returned to pursue Eze, even though the 27-year-old midfielder is not naturally a striker. His role at Crystal Palace was mainly as a left winger and attacking midfielder.

Tottenham was reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Eze and confident of completing the transfer before the summer window closed. However, on Wednesday, Arsenal pulled off a surprising "heist," leaving fans of both Spurs and Arsenal stunned.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish and Arsenal’s vice chairman Tim Lewis share a fairly good relationship. Arsenal’s victory over their neighbors Tottenham was partly due to their willingness to pay £68 million, which was enough for Crystal Palace to agree. Additionally, Glasner’s team is eyeing some Arsenal players, especially defender Jakub Kiwior. Kiwior could be a replacement for Marc Guehi if Palace’s captain decides to move to Liverpool in the final days of the summer transfer window.

Eze’s arrival will deepen Arsenal’s attacking options

Backup for Saka or left forward?

Arteta’s frequent use of a 4-3-3 formation means Eze has limited chances to play as an attacking midfielder. However, this doesn’t really affect the 27-year-old’s chances to start since he is a versatile player, capable of performing well as both left and right winger, and also ready to play central midfield if required.

The question for Arsenal is how they will utilize Eze. The right forward position is almost certainly reserved for Saka, so if Eze wants to play there, he must accept a substitute role. The left forward spot offers a better chance for Eze to secure a starting place since Arteta is still not satisfied with any options he currently has. In the match against Manchester United, Martinelli and then Madueke played in this role but neither made a significant impact. Since Martinelli might be shifted to backup Gyokeres as a striker, Arsenal needs competition for the left forward position, and Eze is likely the answer.

Eze has been an Arsenal fan since childhood. The 27-year-old midfielder is wise enough to understand that playing for Arsenal means regular Champions League football and a strong chance to win the Premier League. His goal-scoring ability is exactly what Arsenal needs, having scored 9 goals in the last 13 games of the previous season for Crystal Palace, including a goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. This raises hope that Eze can be a new goal-scoring solution for Arsenal while waiting for Havertz to recover from injury.

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