Arsenal must now seriously consider making a concerted effort to sign Crystal Palace and England star Eberechi Eze this summer.
Eberechi Eze was in fine form for the Eagles last season.
In 31 appearances for the South London club, across all competitions, he racked up 11 goals and 6 assists, as he and Michael Olise dovetailed fluently in attack for the Eagles.
Arsenal have shown an interest in Eze in the past, and Mikel Arteta ought to now strive to bring the talented 25-year-old to the Emirates Stadium.
However, as things stand, it seems that fellow Euro 2024 star Nico Williams is higher up in the pecking order of the Gunners’ transfer targets than the England man.
Williams has shone for Spain at the summer international tournament, whilst Eze has very much been on the periphery of Gareth Southgate’s plans. However, there are reasons to believe that the Crystal Palace man would bring more to Arsenal than the Athletic Bilbao star.
Eberechi Eze offers Arsenal more versatility than Nico Williams
Like Williams, Eze can operate on either flank. He is strong on both feet, possesses tremendous technical ability and close control, and can beat an opponent in one-on-one situations.
However, unlike the Spaniard, Eze is also comfortable being deployed more centrally. Arsenal are yet to identify a perfect, long-term solution to their left-eight role in midfield, particularly if Declan Rice is required to take up a more defensively-minded position.
A trio of Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard, Eze, and Bukayo Saka, joining club captain Martin Odegaard in the supporting roles behind the striker is a tantalising prospect.
Eze offers solution to homegrown quota issue facing Mikel Arteta
With Hale End academy graduates Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, and Emile Smith Rowe all likely to leave the club this summer, as well as goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Arsenal face having a dearth of homegrown talent in their ranks.
5-cap England international Eze would help to address this issue, whereas Williams obviously would not. Premier League rules dictate that at least 8 players in a 25-man squad must qualify as homegrown. Eze would help the Gunners to meet that quota.
What’s more, Williams has indicated that he isn’t in any rush to join Arsenal. Meanwhile, Eze has a £60 million release clause that Arsenal could trigger in order to get a deal done quickly, as reported by Goal.