Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has now shared his verdict on Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.
Eberechi Eze was on the books at Arsenal, in the club’s Hale End academy system, between 2006 and 2011 before being let go.
As a youngster, he then spent time at Fulham, Reading, and Millwall, before making his breakthrough at QPR in 2017.
Since then, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder has gone from strength to strength. After establishing himself as one of the most exciting emerging talents in the Championship, Crystal Palace agreed a £20 million deal to secure his services in the summer of 2020.
Eze is now a talismanic figure at Selhurst Park, and has also been capped twice at senior international level by England.
Naturally, Eze’s impressive rise up the ranks has caught the eye of many, including Mikel Arteta. According to 90min, the Gunners have been monitoring the player’s progress, with a view to potentially trying to strike a deal to bring him back to the Emirates Stadium.
Strengthening in that part of the pitch is not a priority for Arsenal this month. As reported by transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, bolstering their options in defence and up front is top of the agenda for Arsenal in the current January transfer window. Eze may well represent a more long-term target for the north London outfit, though.
Martin Keown recounts meeting with Arsenal target Eberechi Eze
Martin Keown, who made more than 400 appearances and won three League titles with Arsenal, across two spells with the club, has now reflected upon a personal meeting with Eze. Speaking on TNT Sports, the 57-year-old ex-centre-back said, “I was at the training ground this time last year when Patrick Vieira was about to leave, and I spoke to Eze. I was immensely impressed with him. A million questions [he asked me]; he particularly wanted to know about work ethic, how I trained every day, how I wanted to be the best.”
“He was like, ‘Ok, I need to do more.’ It was very interesting; I watched with great interest afterwards, and he’s just gone on. Roy [Hodgson] in his ear, [is] presenting him in the right way. This guy is an immense talent, there’s no doubt about that.”
Understandably, Crystal Palace would be extremely reluctant to let Eze go. What’s more, plenty of clubs beyond Arsenal would be interested is securing his services. As such, it won’t be easy for the Gunners to get a deal done for the player, nor would he come cheap.
A lack of financial resources is currently an issue for Arsenal, which all but rules them out of making a move for Eze this winter in any case. It is fascinating to speculate how he might fit in amongst the likes of Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Fabio Vieira, and Emile Smith Rowe, though. Whilst there is no doubting Eze’s talent, there is already plenty of competition for game time in that part of the pitch at Arsenal.
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