Eberechi Eze's potential Arsenal debut is a hot topic among Gunners fans, following Arsenal's agreement to sign him from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £67.5 million. The attacking midfielder, who has long been admired by Arsenal, is set to become the club's seventh signing of the summer.
Arsenal's pursuit of Eze can be traced back to his youth days, as he briefly represented the club at youth level before being released at 13. In 2022, Eze expressed his dream of playing for Arsenal, adding fuel to the speculation surrounding a potential move. Since joining Crystal Palace from QPR in 2020 for £17 million, Eze has made over 150 appearances, scoring 40 goals and providing 28 assists. He played a crucial role in Crystal Palace's FA Cup triumph last season, scoring the decisive goal in the final against Manchester City.
Arsenal's interest in Eze reportedly resurfaced due to Kai Havertz's knee injury. The Gunners moved swiftly to hijack Tottenham's move for the Crystal Palace star, making their move after Eze looked set to join their north London rivals. Arsenal were interested in signing Eze earlier in the summer transfer window but cooled their interest when Ethan Nwaneri signed a new contract, which put more emphasis on players leaving the club instead.
However, Arsenal may have missed the deadline to register Eze in time for the Leeds United game. For Eze to be eligible to face Leeds, he must have completed his medical and registration by Friday's 12pm deadline. Unfortunately, reports suggest that the deal was not completed in time, making his debut against Leeds unlikely. As a result, Eze's Arsenal debut is more likely to occur in a heavyweight showdown at Anfield on Sunday, August 31, against Liverpool.
Despite the potential delay in his debut, Eze's arrival is expected to transform Mikel Arteta's Arsenal squad. He will join the ranks of other significant signings this summer, including Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, and Noni Madueke. Eze's addition will bolster an attacking line that already features Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Ethan Nwaneri.
Eze's move to Arsenal marks a return to his boyhood club, where he aims to seize his second chance in north London. His motivation and talent are expected to make a significant impact for Mikel Arteta's team. Arsenal fans eagerly await Eze's debut, anticipating the creativity and attacking prowess he will bring to the Gunners' lineup.
Eze's former club, Crystal Palace, will undoubtedly feel his absence. Since joining Palace in August 2020, Eze has established himself as one of the Premier League's most exciting forward talents. In November 2023, he extended his contract with Crystal Palace until 2027, demonstrating his commitment to the club. However, the allure of joining Arsenal and competing for major trophies proved too strong to resist.