Amazing Eze repeat: Arsenal discussing late move for £45m "monster"
da aviator aposta： Arsenal may well have romped to a 5-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday evening, marquee summer signing Viktor Gyokeres scoring twice, but arguably, the spotlight was taken away from that performance.
da wazamba： Why? Well, before a ball was kicked at the Emirates Stadium, Eberechi Eze was formally announced as a new Arsenal player.
Eze walked down the tunnel and stepped onto the turf, donning his new shirt which read Eze 10.
What a moment, what a signing this is, not least because of the quality Eze possesses but the circumstances in which a deal happened.
In midweek, it looked as though the England international was destined to sign for Spurs. A fee had been agreed and once Crystal Palace’s Conference League tie had taken place, he was set to head to north London.
Eze did indeed head to north London but it was Arsenal he signed for instead. The Athletic reveal that a phone call between the playmaker and Mikel Arteta on Wednesday turned the tide and by the evening, everything had been sewn up.
So, what’s next, if anything for the Gunners?
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With the Eze deal sewn up, attention will turn to player exits at the Emirates. Before the window slams shut on 1st September a whole wave of players could be heading for the exit door.
Polish defender Jakub Kiwior continues to be linked with a move away, as does Reiss Nelson. You sense they are two of the most expendable assets right now.
If Kiwior does leave, then reports suggest a replacement could be brought in.
That’s according to club insider Hand of Arsenal, who reported on Saturday that Kiwior is still “insisting” on leaving the club behind.
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As a result, discussions have been held behind the scenes about signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi in a late deal.
That being said, Guehi has reservations about moving to Arsenal given he’d have to compete with William Saliba and Gabriel for a place in the team. Not ideal in a World Cup year, it must be said.
Liverpool have been leading the race for Guehi’s signature this summer with a deal mooted at around £45m.
An amazing Eze repeat
Have you ever seen a deal unite the fanbase more than Eze? We’re struggling to think of many examples, such is the rarity of the event, but Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are perhaps two examples that spring to mind.
So, why is there so much fuss? Well, back when he was just 13, Eze was released by Arsenal, a moment that left him in tears as he struggled to train.
This is a comeback story, it’s a tale of redemption, a character arc we very rarely see in football. Eze has gone away, done the hard yards via the likes of QPR and Wycombe Wanderers. His dream, however, is now fulfilled. He always wanted Arsenal. This move was a no-brainer.
The obvious emotional connection is a big factor here but plainly, the attacker is a phenomental talent. Like the Declan Rice move two years ago, he’s proven Premier League quality. As Gary Neville once said, “this was the banker”.
While success is never guranteed in life, it’s hard to see a world where Eze isn’t a rip-roaring success. Just last season, he was on fire in an Eagles shirt, scoring 14 and assisting 11 in all competitions.
Club allegiances aside, acquiring Guehi would be a very similar signing. Not just would the Gunners be hijacking Liverpool’s bid for the defender but he’s a Premier League-proven star, someone who would be nothing but a success.
Eze’s Crystal Palace career
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2024/25
43
14
11
2023/24
31
11
6
2022/23
40
10
4
2021/22
19
1
1
2020/21
36
3
6
Stats via Transfermarkt.
Starring alongside Eze for a number of years now, Guehi was notably described as “England’s best player” by some at the European Championships last summer and since then he’s only gone from strength to strength.
Dubbed a “monster in defence” by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, the centre-back is a natural leader having captained the side to duel FA Cup and Community Shield wins in recent months.
It’s rare an opportunity comes along to sign an established England international but in the space of just a few days here, Arsenal could spring a surprise and grab two of them.
If the Rice move two years ago was mega, then getting deals across the line for Eze and Guehi would be quite something.
One might argue that Arsenal don’t necessarily need a new defender. We hear that view point. The Gunners have added Cristhian Mosquera to their ranks over the summer. He looks like the perfect combination of Gabriel and Saliba.
However, if Kiwior does go, Arteta knows he needs a big squad after an injury riddled 2024/25. Guehi would be the perfect signing, sealed in Eze-esque fashion. How about that?
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