Morning all.
Yesterday evening, Arsenal performed a u-turn quicker than I used to in my Toyota iQ! Don’t even think about mocking the car because it was a great little runner and speedy too. If it wasn’t for the fact that Toyota stopped producing them, I’d still have one today.
Anyway, just as Totts thought they were home and dry with the signing of Eberechi Eze, Arsenal swooped in to do a deal. Nothing has been confirmed yet but every football journalist including David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano are suggesting it’s a done deal pending the formalities. Either Arsenal have been sitting on this deal for a while and were just waiting for a few player sales to go through but had to move quickly because of Totts interest, or, the injury to Kai Havertz is a bad one.
If it’s the latter, I’m scratching my head as surely a more prolific goal scorer would have made sense, someone like Wissa or Semenyo. Not that I’m complaining by the way because as a left sided midfielder/winger, he could balance our attack out and be the player to bring the best out of Martinelli. So maybe he’s being signed to switch in and out with Martin Odegaard. Personally, I hope it’s the latter because we can tend to be a bit too predictable. Shaw showed that if a team stops Saka, we can struggle.
Eze will score goals, after all, last season he hit 14 in all competitions including the one to beat Man City in the FA Cup Final. He’ll help create them too, something which could benefit our big striker. Plus, he’s an Arsenal fan at heart who has admitted he cried for a week after being released from the clubs academy in 2011.
Crystal Palace play Fredrikstad this evening in the UEFA Conference League and he’s expected to be in the squad. Sky Sports report that he wants the opportunity to say goodbye to the Palace fans. Don’t worry though as the rules are that a player who appears in a play-off or qualifying round in any of UEFA’s top three competitions, can represent a different side from the league phase of another European competition.
Eze’s medical is expected to take place tomorrow.
Catch up in the comments.
Let’s hope he don’t get crocked .
Great great player who I love. 25 assists and goals last season. Hearing Spuds compilation of Youtube breakdowns made my night. With Cali and Eze on the left we should be pretty exciting and stop the pass pass pass until it gets to Saka. Having said that, his profile is neither the out and out left winger upgrade nor the height we will miss from Havertz. But very happy Arsenal showed they can act quickly occasionally, and a great alternative to Odergaard or a front three of Eze, Gyok, Saka.
I doubt he’ll play, Palace would be fools to risk him.
Morning Potter, all.
In my excitement forgot to say morning rico, potter and all 🙂
I wonder whose decision it was to sign Eze, Signor Berta or Senor Arteta.
That’s what confuses me, one minute he was an option if Nwaneri didn’t extend his contract, now he’s a Havertz ‘replacement’ – I think he was always a player Arteta wanted and the rest is just guess work.
According to the palace manager, Eze will play this evening as will Guehi, who is expected to join Liverpool in the next few days.y
Morning Andrew, Cicero.
Maybe it was a joint decision and I don’t mean a decision made whilst having a puff on something naughty. 😜
Morning Rico. No one’s mentioned that Trossard, who we thought would be out the door, has been re-signed with an improved contract. It’s feast or famine at the Arsenal!
Pretty surprised Arsenal have signed two 27 year olds for such money. Arteta must have cottoned on to its now or never for him? Not only that, Noni, Norgaard and Eze all settled in London so no upheaval or getting used to the Premier. Just way Arsenal play but that is evolving anyway.
Morning Anthony, we talked about that yesterday.
Andrew, I reckon it’s because of the number of youngsters coming through. We have a few 15/16 year olds who in theory, could be ready for the first team by the time the older players move to the MLS or Saudi. 😜
Bobby Manzi. Palace fan on Twitter
@BobbyManzi
Eberechi Eze has been a revelation for Crystal Palace. A unique talent with a distinct ability to glide past players, every motion with an indescribable amount of poise. He is unquestionably the most iconic player to adorn a Crystal Palace shirt. 16:46 on Saturday, 17th May will never be forgotten, as the young lad who joined from QPR five years prior made the unthinkable happen.
When Eze signed for Palace, he manifested: “I hope to entertain you, and I hope you enjoy me as much as I enjoy you.” Five years of being kept on the edge of their seats followed for the Selhurst Park faithful, although the start of the journey saw supporters restricted to the confines of their living rooms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A stunning free-kick against Leeds earned him his first goal in red and blue. Who could have predicted the glory that followed?
Everyone will always remember that masterful performance against Sheffield United, when he drifted from inside his own half to the edge of the Blades’ penalty area before drilling low into the corner. He has learned, developed, and evolved into a top-class player at Palace. It has not always been smooth: dropped by Vieira, and do not forget his Achilles injury. But he carried himself with grace throughout. Although everyone connected with Palace wished they had seen more of it, the times he shared on the pitch with Michael Olise were ones to savour. When Olise departed last summer, Eze was forced to shoulder even more of the creative mantle. Despite struggling for the first half of last season, Eze showed his marvellous quality when it mattered – a goal for England against Latvia, making him the first Palace player to score for the Three Lions in 49 years, seemed to turn his season around. 25 goal contributions in all competitions last term, only eight of which came before the turn of the year.
Palace are not only losing a first-rate footballer, but an exemplary character – loved by the fans, community, and dressing room. Born in Greenwich, he represents South London, a humble and grounded character whose purpose is to give back via his foundation, which creates opportunities for children from the capital who may have typically been overlooked. Two pieces of silverware in his final months at the club feels a fitting end for the FA Cup-winning goalscorer. Now, he will get his last dance as Palace embark on their first-ever European campaign. The perfect way to bid farewell to a great.
According to the Independent, this was no hijack, we’ve had the framework of the deal in place for nearly two weeks: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/eze-arsenal-transfer-latest-spurs-hijack-b2811373.html
Don’t tell Totts that NB.. 😜
Devil, your analysis on the previous post about playing 3 at the back was golden. I love the tactical side of the game.
NB, you are right. Actually Arsenal went back to his agent on August 10th. Allegedly, Eze family have season tickets at the Emirate and Eze deliberately was dragging his feet on joining the spuds. He knew Arsenal wanted him and he wanted to come back. Berta let the release clause expired because he didn’t want to pay the 68m upfront.
Eze’s ability to unlock defense, imho, is “Ozil Light”. I hope at Arsenal and with better players, he can become Ozil 2.0 without the pertulance of course. Ozil one of my favorite players.
My tactics are genius Obi, pass the ball from back to front as quick as possible and then stick the ball into the net. Simples. 😂
Karl Hein on his way to Werder Bremen according to reports in Germany.
Palace’s game tonight is live on channel 5. So we can all watch our latest recruit.
I can’t see him playing with a move in place.
In fact it’s been confirmed, Eze will not play tonight.
Good morning Rico, your headline is proving to be a little inapt as the paper work(registration) will not be completed in time for Eze to make his debut for Arsenal against Leeds.
Morning Cicero. 😝
What time does he have to be registered by? Midday today isn’t it although we don’t kick off until later in the day.
I don’t think the F A work weekends Rico. 😉
😂 Cicero.
This puts to bed the theory that Trossard’s pay rise had anything to do with the injury to Havertz. He was either going to move or stay and better terms were agreed at the end of the season. Only him changing agents held things up.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6564437/2025/08/21/trossard-contract-explained-havertz-injury-and-what-next-for-arsenal-in-the-transfer-window/
According to the Evening Standard if he is registered by noon today he could be available for Leeds.
Most likely however is he will be introduced and get a substitute role for Liverpool . Quite how the team is now shuffled I haven’t got a clue . The 3 at the back theory looks the only way to shoehorn them all in unless he drops Martinelli/ Madueke and then Gyokeres doesn’t get service from the left and we have a gaping hole at the back for a fast break attack .
Theories on a post card please.
If we don’t have a clue then neither will the opposition.. 😂
Seriously though, we needed depth and strength which is what we now have. We pretty much play 2/3 at the back anyway because our fullbacks go wandering at every given opportunity.
It has been suggested that if Martinelli isn’t in the squad tomorrow he is being sold to Saudi Arabia for big money to help balance the books as we have spent over £250million .We will see.
According to Bild, Havertz has ‘problems with the cartilage and loose bodies in his knee’.
For the next fortnight, he will undergo conservative treatment and take a number of injections.
If Arsenal’s medical team are able to get the issue under control, Havertz will avoid having to go under the knife and avoid a longer period on the side lines.
I think the club knew the extent of the injury and acted pronto.
I wonder if the Eze signing though beneficial may also be detrimental in fact ,now having too many options in certain positions ?Would Newari have got a new contract ,not sure ?
Good Morning Everyone and their dog, it’s been an intriguing last 36 hours with all kinds of rumours and counter-rumours doing the rounds.
I personally don’t know anyone in ‘the know’ so I’m tending to listen to Ornstein and to a lesser degree Arseblog and that’s working very well for me.
Still no developments over the new Saliba contract and absolutely nothing concerning Saka, of course that could be because Berta is confident that those two deals can be easily tied up and maybe we’ll see more focus on them after the transfer deadline passes and we’re into the dreaded mind numbing Interlull, God help us!
Eze seems rubber stamped, which is great as you can never have too many good footballers because, well you know, injuries…
I’m not yet too concerned about sales because I’m sure that Berta will get them done, although it’ll probably be towards the end of next week – we know how this thing works.
Those clubs hoping to screw us over and get our players on the cheap will play their games – who blinks first – but Berta just has to remain his inscrutable self, the deadpan expression and hopefully the likes of Fulham, Werder, Porto and Co will see that this isn’t old soppy, give our players away for fcuk all Arsenal anymore…
The Eze poaching reminded me of the way Manu Petit, after agreeing terms with Tottenham got them to call a taxi to take him to his hotel but then redirected it to Arsene Wenger’s, home and the rest is history. Spurs even paid the taxi fare. 😁
I’d be disappointed if Martinelli was sold, he’s too young to be going to Saudi imo. Look at the guy Villa sold, one season and he’s back in Europe..
That’s a story I’ll always love. Petit became a hero very quickly.
Still not heard anything regarding the fitness of Nordgaard, White and Rice, apparently some stories coming out of Germany are hinting at a long layoff for Havertz, so that probably means several months?
I have already mentioned Havertz allezkev and I thought you don’t listen to rumours ?
I don’t listen to rumours, just Ornstein…
New post up.
There’s rumours Kelsey and then there’s BS, I guess it depends on how where the rumour comes from and how reliable you find them.