Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace for £67.5 million.
The Gunners have been intent on acquiring a left-sided attacker who can play in midfield or out wide this summer and they finally appear to have secured their man.
Eze will undergo his medical at the Sohba Realty training ground on Friday morning and could even feature for the North Londoners against Leeds at the Emirates on Saturday.
The acquisition represents a major coup for Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta, swooping in at the eleventh hour to prise the Crystal Palace star away from Tottenham and to N5.
Paul Merson lauds Arsenal’s signing of Eberechi Eze
Tottenham were reportedly close to signing Eze, with a fee understood to have been agreed between Spurs and Palace.
However, the player himself was supposedly sceptical about joining the Lilywhites, having grown up supporting Arsenal.
He’ll now get to fulfil his childhood dream of playing for the Gunners, switching Selhurst Park for the Emirates in a romantic late move.
Gabby Agbonlahor believes Eze will help Arsenal win the Premier League, and Paul Merson has now revealed that he echoes these sentiments.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Arsenal forward has lauded the signing, describing it as a ‘game-changer’.
“Eze is a brilliant signing for Arsenal,” Merson said. “It’s a game-changer and a perfect fit.
“If they had let Spurs get him, I’d have had to question what the club was doing because he’s a quality player.
“Arsenal struggle when teams come to the Emirates and put everyone behind the ball. Teams want to limit the space Arsenal have to play in, and they have struggled to break teams down with those tactics.
“We’ve seen it over the last few years where they have struggled to break teams down when it gets right to the business end of a game and the business end of a season.
“For me, that’s where Eze comes in at Arsenal. He’s got the X-factor, and in tight, tight games, he has the ability to break a low block down.
“Away from home, maybe he’s not the answer. Against the likes of Liverpool and Man City, they may come under the cosh for a bit, and they may have to play slightly differently.
“But that’s why you have a big squad. At home, against the lesser teams, where they have 70 to 80 per cent of the ball, let Eze go and do what he wants because he will make something happen.
“I think Arsenal win the league with Eze. They had a chance without him because it’s a real heads or tails season with Liverpool, and Man City played well on the opening weekend, but Eze will help get them over the line.”
Eberechi Eze’s 2024/25 statistics
It’s clear from Eze’s data exactly what he will bring to Arsenal’s attack.
The Gunners have often looked sterile in forward areas over the last 12 months, struggling to break down low blocks with their laborious possession-based approach.
They’ve lacked players who shoot from range, and also players who can unlock defences with agile dribbling.
| Eberechi Eze’s Premier League Statistics 2024/25 | |
| Appearances | 34 |
| Goals | 8 |
| Assists | 8 |
| Shots per 90 | 3.48 |
| Expected Goals per 90 | 0.36 |
| Key Passes per 90 | 2.01 |
| Expected Assists per 90 | 0.22 |
| Successful Take-ons per 90 | 2.33 |
As shown by the statistics above from last season, Eze takes a lot of shots and is a prolific dribbler.
His 3.48 shots per 90 minutes is more than anyone else in Arsenal’s squad managed last term, while his 2.33 successful take-ons would also see him rank highest in the Gunners’ ensemble.
Thus, Eze should provide the North Londoners with more offensive thrust moving forward.
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