Over the last week, Arsenal have shown a strong interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.
The 27-year-old is coming off an incredible season in which he amassed 26 goal contributions, helping the Eagles secure their first major trophy in the process.
His high-level performances and unique style of play have caught the eye of Mikel Arteta, who has approved the signing of the England international.
Arsenal have met with Eze’s representatives, with positive talks concluding, and a £68 million release clause in his contract could make the deal a whole lot easier.
A move is very possible this summer, but is Eze the right fit for Arsenal’s style of play?
Why Does Eberechi Eze Thrive in Palace’s System?
Eze has shown countless times that there is no one like him in the league.
He makes the game look easy, effortlessly gliding past players week in, week out. For that reason alone, it is no surprise that there is high interest in him.
However, for Eze’s style to work, he also needs to operate in a system that suits him, which is exactly what he has at Palace.
Oliver Glasner’s team operate with two inside-forwards, who work in the pockets between a traditional winger and a number ten.
This gives him the option of playing wider, or to drift inside, depending on ball position or the opponent’s shape.
It also allows Palace’s full-backs to support the attack with less risk, giving them the option of an underlap or overlap in the process.
The Eagles also thrive on counter-attacking football, and this method brings the best out of Eze, who can be direct and get into a flow when he has space around him.
The former QPR man has thrived in Glasner’s system, with most of his goals coming from either cutting inside or making runs from the pocket into central areas.
Eze is Palace’s star man, with most attacks flowing through him. At Arsenal, that role would be very different.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: How an Overloaded Football Calendar Is Ruining the Viewing Experience
How is Arsenal’s System Different?
According to Opta data, Arsenal play a much slower and more intricate style than Palace.
This is likely down to the fact the Gunners have a lot of possession and play against defences which operate more conservatively due to their quality.
But this may limit Eze’s directness-one of his strongest attributes.
That’s not saying he couldn’t still be effective, but it would be a very different challenge.
Data also shows the majority of Arsenal’s attacks come down the middle, driven by Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.
Compare that to Palace, where well over a third of their attacks come from the left-hand side, there’s is a risk for Eze that his influence could be limited.
However, these are just stats. There is no reason why Eze couldn’t adapt to this system and Arteta may even tweak his approach if they make a move for Eze.
If he’s given a free roaming role, similar to what he has at Palace, then there’s no reason as to why he shouldn’t succeed.
Eze would improve most teams in the league, he’d significantly upgrade Arsenal’s left-hand side and make them a real challenger for the title next season.
If the Gunners choose to sign Eze, they must ensure they have a clear plan to use him effectively within their system.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Colorsport
Recording Date: 20.05.2025