How dare Tottenham Hotspur think they could beat Arsenal to Eberechi Eze? The same Eze who has long been known to harbour a dream of playing for Arsenal.
The idea of Spurs and Crystal Palace reaching an agreement in principle left Gooners frustrated, but Arsenal’s decision-makers spared them further misery by hijacking the deal before it was officially confirmed. Eze is now making the switch to Arsenal after the club successfully moved in at the last moment.
What Eze means for Martinelli
With his arrival, Arsenal can feel more confident about Mikel Arteta’s side, especially with this signing set to address one of the team’s biggest issues, the left-wing struggles.
Gabriel Martinelli could be one of the biggest winners from the deal. Expected to operate as the left central midfielder, Eze’s presence in the middle should elevate Martinelli’s game. One problem with Arteta’s left flank has been that it became too touch-heavy.
Now, with a brilliant ball carrier and progressor like Eze, capable of line-breaking passes, the volume of touches required from the left winger drops significantly. Martinelli can focus more on movement and receiving closer to goal. He will not need to worry as much about beating his man, as Eze can provide that spark.
Additionally, Martinelli and Eze could combine in short exchanges, injecting dynamism and pushing the Brazilian into the box, where his game shines most in finishing moves. With the duo linking up, Arsenal might rediscover the chemistry Martinelli once enjoyed with Gabriel Jesus in the 2022-23 season, when we saw his best version.
Eze as a left-wing option
If Martinelli still fails to rediscover his mojo, Arteta may take a bold step and deploy Eze on the left wing. Eze operates best centrally, where he drives powerfully through the middle in transition, breaking pressure and injecting pace into play. As he surges forward, he can pick out passes into space with precision.
However, he is equally capable of operating from the left wing, and could remain a viable option there if needed.
Your thoughts Gooners?
Daniel O
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