Andrea Berta stunned Arsenal and Tottenham fans by hijacking Eberechi Eze’s transfer to N17.
Eze is on his way to Arsenal, with Berta taking control of the deal moments before the attacking midfielder was set to sign for Spurs.
Tottenham fans are struggling to digest the news, which is fair, as the Gunners are in a position to land one of the Premier League’s best playmakers.
Gone are the days of signing Raheem Sterling in a reactionary deadline day scramble, as just hours after Kai Havertz’s knee injury was revealed, Berta had lined up his replacement.
- READ MORE: How much Arsenal are now set to pay for Eberechi Eze as big concession made to Crystal Palace
Arsenal aren’t signing Eberechi Eze to replace Kai Havertz
Soon after Havertz’s injury came to light, it was reported that Arsenal had opened talks to sign Eze.
The Germany international is set for a spell on the sidelines, which is a dire shame, but it prompted Berta to re-enter the market to replenish Mikel Arteta’s front line.
It was initially thought that Arsenal would look for a new striker to replace Havertz, but instead chose Eze; however, the reason wasn’t to directly provide cover for the 26-year-old.
Analysing the transfer for The Athletic, journalist and Arsenal expert James McNicholas explained the thinking behind recruiting the Crystal Palace superstar.
“Eze is not a direct replacement for Havertz, but his signing would potentially free up the likes of Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard to fill in at centre-forward until the Germany international returns,” McNicholas wrote.
Arsenal trust Viktor Gyokeres to lead the line, with Eze’s arrival representing more creative support, something the new striker will undoubtedly love.
Aside from the impact on Gyokeres, it’s now also clear why Arsenal offered Leandro Trossard a new contract, with the Belgian seen as a valuable squad player to cover where necessary.
How Eze will make Arsenal so much better
There are a lot of factors behind why Berta chose to sign Eze, but the overriding plus is that he will simply make Arteta’s attack considerably better.
On the opening day, Arsenal struggled to create against Manchester United, with that dynamic profile missing to break through the lines, something Eze can do.
| Per 90 Statistic | Eberechi Eze | Martin Odegaard | Kai Havertz |
| Shots | 3.48 | 1.86 | 2.54 |
| Shot-creating actions | 4.69 | 4.80 | 2.02 |
| Successful take-ons | 2.33 | 0.97 | 0.43 |
| Key passes | 2.02 | 2.44 | 0.82 |
When comparing the Englishman to Arsenal’s central attacking players last season, Havertz and Martin Odegaard, it’s clear to see what the Crystal Palace ace will provide.
Averaging considerably more shots and successful dribbles than the Arsenal pair in the 2024/25 Premier League, Eze has the chance to set the Gunners’ attack alight with his flair.
It’s a statement transfer that has happened in dream circumstances for Arsenal, denying their rivals a true superstar.
from Arsenal Transfer News | Rumours, Deals & Targets | Arsenal Insider
Rosie Tudball