‘Special’ Arsenal star will be fuming after hearing about Eberechi Eze’s imminent transfer

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Arsenal have reached an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze.

The Gunners have been in the market for a left-sided attacker all summer, and may finally be close to securing someone who fits the bill.

Noni Madueke signed for £52 million back in July from Chelsea, and many suspected the England international may be being bought as an option for the left wing for Mikel Arteta.

However, a deal for Eze has now been agreed after months of intense speculation about the potential transfer, and Palace’s talisman will surely demand a regular role off the left for the North Londoners.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Ethan Nwaneri won’t be happy about Eberechi Eze signing

Ethan Nwaneri signed a new contract at Arsenal earlier this month.

The Hale End graduate’s deal was set to expire next summer, and thus, the Gunners rushed to secure the services of the youngster for the long term.

Nwaneri’s camp was reportedly seeking assurances over game time, although the player himself was said to be happy to continue developing at his boyhood club.

However, the 18-year-old must have been reassured that he would be granted relatively regular minutes once again, with some reports indicating that he’s now viewed as the default backup for Martin Odegaard.

However, Arsenal are now set to sign Eze, and thus, Nwaneri’s minutes are under threat once again.

While Eze will predominantly operate on the left-hand side of the pitch, either as a winger or as a left eight, he’s certainly likely to take minutes from Nwaneri.

If Odegaard is unavailable or in need of a rest, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Arteta call upon the experienced Eze to fill the void, rather than the teenager, whose output has been somewhat variable since breaking through.

For these reasons, Nwaneri, whom Odegaard described as ‘special’, will undoubtedly be disappointed upon hearing the news that Eze is on his way to N5.

Max Dowman’s development shouldn’t be impacted by Eberechi Eze signing

Given his age, Eze is likely to be something of a short-term addition, acquired to help Arsenal win a major trophy within the next two or three years.

While his presence in Arteta’s squad may somewhat block Nwaneri’s path to minutes, Gunners fans shouldn’t be too concerned about Max Dowman.

In three years, when Arsenal may be looking to move Eze on, Dowman will still only be just 18, and may not have even been properly integrated into the first team yet.

This should mean Dowman will still have a pathway to breaking into the senior side, with Eze not standing in his way to block his development.

This arguably justifies Arsenal investing in an experienced player in his prime, rather than another who can develop and is pre-prime.