Big-money target “in favour” of moving to Arsenal

Since taking the job over five years ago, Mikel Arteta has got plenty of things right at Arsenal.

He’s turned a club that was spiralling down the Premier League table into perennial challengers, and while he hasn’t quite got the team over the final hurdle yet, there is every chance he does this season.

Alongside the change in tactics and philosophy, something else he has generally got right is transfers, with the likes of David Raya, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber all key members of the first team.

However, when it comes to the very best addition made under Arteta’s stewardship, it’s hard to look past Declan Rice, who has been a midfield monster from his very first game.

So, fans should be very excited about reports linking Arsenal to a player who could just be the club’s best signing since Rice.

Arsenal target best signing since Rice

In all, it’s been a good summer for Arsenal so far this year, as they won three of their five pre-season games and have already made six additions to the first team squad.

The two stand-outs are undoubtedly Viktor Gyokeres, who could finally be the striker the fanbase has been crying out for, and Martin Zubimendi, who has looked sublime at the base of midfield so far.

Yet, instead of resting on their laurels, the club appear keen to complete at least one more addition to the team before the window slams shut next month.

At least that is according to a recent report from David Ornstein, who on the latest episode of the Sports Agents confirmed that Arsenal are still interested in Eberechi Eze.

The respected journalist revealed that while signing the Englishman has become less of a pressing concern following Ethan Nwaneri’s new deal, the Gunners are still in the conversation for the Palace ace, and that he himself is “in favour” of a move to the Emirates.

It remains to be seen how much the 27-year-old will ultimately cost as his release clause of £68m is reportedly set to expire tomorrow.

It could therefore be a costly and complicated deal to get over the line, but given Eze’s immense ability and experience, he’d be worth it and quite possibly Arsenal’s best signing since Rice.

Why Eze would be Arsenal’s best signing since Rice

Since completing his £105m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2023, Rice has been almost faultless in red and white.

He was sensational in both the six and eight roles in his first season, and then took another step forward, primarily in the left eight last year.

He made 52 appearances across all competitions, in which he racked up a brilliant haul of nine goals and ten assists, and seemed to play a part in everything that well – like those free-kicks against Real Madrid.

So, while the likes of Kai Havertz, Raya and Timber have all been important players since joining the club, it would be hard to claim any have been as transformational as the former West Ham United captain.

Likewise, while the club have made some positive additions this summer, we think Eze would be the best since his compatriot, and the reason why is a simple one: he is Premier League-proven and makes things happen.

For example, in his 43 appearances for the Eagles last season, totalling just 3303 minutes, the 27-year-old “superstar,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists.

In other words, the Greenwich-born dynamo managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes, for a team that finished in mid-table.

On top of that, the former QPR gem scored in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the FA Cup, showing that he has what it takes to step up in the biggest and most pressurised moments.

Finally, while some might make the argument that Gyokeres will be the best signing since the former Irons ace, as he scored far more than the Palace star did, it’s important to remember that he did so in a league ranked as only the eighth toughest in the world, behind the Championship and Belgian top-flight.

Ultimately, while Arsenal have made plenty of good signings over the last few years, they could make their best since Rice if they can get their hands on Eze.