What Jean-Philippe Mateta said about Eberechi Eze will have Viktor Gyokeres licking his lips

Add as preferred source on Google

It’s not only Tottenham who will be gutted to hear the news of Eberechi Eze’s transfer to Arsenal.

Arsenal hijacked Tottenham’s deal for Eze in the eleventh hour following the news of Kai Havertz’s injury.

The Gunners took advantage of the minimal amount of time left for Spurs to secure Eze’s signature, paying £68m for the attacking midfielder.

Less than 24 hours after the news broke, Eze is booked in for a medical at Arsenal as he prepares to say goodbye to Palace.

• READ MORE: Arsenal had one big ‘concern’ about signing Eberechi Eze, but Josh Kroenke has decided to ignore it

Jean-Philippe Mateta said Eberechi Eze makes things ‘easier’ for strikers

Those at Palace will be happy to watch Eze go on to join his boyhood club, but some of his teammates will have conflicting emotions.

One player who will particularly miss playing with the 27-year-old is Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had great joy combining with the playmaker in South London.

In a 2024 interview with Sky Sports, Mateta explained how Eze makes football ‘easier’ for strikers, praising the impact both the Arsenal-bound star and Michael Olise had on his form.

“It’s easier sometimes, with Eze dribbling past two or three players,” Mateta said.

“Olise is the same, and then they find me, and I can score with a first touch. It’s such a pleasure to play with those two.”

In his playing career, Mateta hasn’t combined with any player for a goal as much as he has with Eze at Palace.

Transfermarkt data shows that the duo combined for 14 goals, with Eze assisting his striker 12 times, numbers that will alert one player waiting for him at the Emirates.

Viktor Gyokeres will love the Eze signing

The news of Eze’s pending transfer has changed the overriding narrative at Arsenal, which was Viktor Gyokeres’ struggles against Manchester United.

Arsenal created very little against United, seeing Gyokeres suffer more than most as time after time, his runs in behind went undetected.

The capture of Eze will be music to the Swede’s ears, particularly when taking into consideration how Mateta has been impacted by the Englishman over the years.

There are few playmakers as efficient in the Premier League as Eze, who will certainly give Gyokeres more chances than he’s had in the early moments of his Arsenal career.