Mikel Arteta believes he needs just one more signing for Arsenal to win the Premier League, Andrea Berta must deliver

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal look set to have six signings through the door before their pre-season tour commences, yet Mikel Arteta still wants to add one more to his squad this summer.

The Gunners have already completed moves for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, while three more are on the verge of sealing their switches to the Emirates.

Noni Madueke has undergone his medical ahead of his transfer from Chelsea, while Cristhian Mosquera’s medical has been booked.

Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres is set to join from Sporting for an initial £55 million, with this flurry of additions certainly shaking up Arteta’s squad, which had begun to look somewhat stale.

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

Mikel Arteta believes Eberechi Eze is the ‘final piece in the jigsaw’ for Arsenal

After adding a striker, a winger, two central midfielders, a defender and a goalkeeper, there is a belief within Arsenal that the final addition must be an attacking midfielder.

Martin Odegaard struggled at times last season, burdened by the excessive creative responsibility that had been placed upon him after the exits of Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira.

Eberechi Eze has been identified as the ideal option by Andrea Berta, and Arteta is understood to be very keen on the Crystal Palace man as well.

According to SunSport, Arteta views Eze as the ‘final piece in the jigsaw’ and believes that his addition could lead Arsenal to Premier League glory.

The Spaniard wants to source a versatile forward, capable of playing off the left instead of Gabriel Martinelli, or as a left eight as a more offensive alternative to Declan Rice.

Eze fits this profile, and Arteta’s reported desperation to land the 27-year-old certainly piles the pressure on Berta to make the deal happen.

The Sporting Director has been able to deliver everything the Arsenal boss has asked for thus far in this window, but the addition of the England international could be key in determining the two senior figures’ relationship for the next year.

Arsenal should not pay Eberechi Eze’s release clause

Eze enjoyed an exceptional 2024/25 season, scoring 14 goals and registering 12 assists across all competitions.

Undoubtedly a talented player, the former Queens Park Rangers man would add facets to Arteta’s squad that they currently lack.

Providing direct dribbling in central areas and a willingness to let fly from range, Eze would excite fans and help the Gunners break down stubborn low blocks.

That said, Arsenal should go nowhere near Eze’s £68 million release clause.

This fee is a significant outlay for a player who’s just turned 27 and likely only has a few seasons left at the top level.

It’s also a significant sum of money for someone whose position in the team would not be obvious, given that he’s not a natural winger and not going to play over either Martin Odegaard or Rice in midfield that frequently.

While he’d certainly play very regularly if he were to end up in N5, spending £68 million on a 27-year-old who is neither elite nor a nailed-on starter every week isn’t an astute use of resources.