Eze's Arsenal Adventure: From Spurs-Stealing Superstar to 'Where's the Magic?' Mystery
Eberechi Eze's Arsenal stint started with a dramatic hijack from Tottenham and dazzling highs like a derby hat-trick, but recent form has raised eyebrows over his £67.5m fee despite five goals and six assists in 33 games. Early promise included key assists and goals amid injuries to stars like Saka and Odegaard, plus Champions League success. With his history of peaking in February, Eze has a chance to silence doubters and spark Arsenal's attack.
Alright, lads, grab a pint and pull up a stool because we're diving into the wild ride of Eberechi Eze at Arsenal. This bloke was supposed to be the Gunners' secret weapon – the cheeky wizard to unlock their attack when things get a bit too robotic up top. Arsenal are lounging at the summit of the Premier League, but that final-third flair? Still a work in progress. Eze, though? He's had his moments, but whispers are turning to shouts: is the £67.5 million man worth the hype?
Let's rewind to last summer's transfer soap opera. Eze, Crystal Palace's golden boy after captaining them to FA Cup glory – their first major trophy ever – was primed for a big move. Tottenham had been sniffing around for years, right back to his QPR days. Deal all but done, Glasner dreaming of him for Conference League playoffs. Then, boom! Mikel Arteta rings him up like it's no big thing. 'Fancy Arsenal instead, mate?' Spurs left red-faced in one of the Prem's cheekiest hijackings. Eze rocks up at the Emirates on 23 August amid a 5-0 demolition of Leeds. Instant cult hero status unlocked.
Early days? Pure fireworks. With Saka nursing knocks and Odegaard sidelined by knee and shoulder woes, Eze stepped up. Post-internationals, Arsenal battered Forest 3-0 – Eze with his first assist for the badge he grew up dreaming of. Then, City roll into town, Haaland nicks an early lead, but deep into stoppage time, Eze lofts a beauty for Martinelli to chip the keeper and nab a point. Classic Emirates drama.
Next, up at Newcastle, trailing but Eze bosses midfield in a frantic comeback – two goals in 10 minutes for the win. His first Gunners strike? A screamer against old pals Palace in the league. Throw in Carabao Cup goals against Port Vale and CL assists versus Atletico and Bayern – Arsenal topped the league phase with eight straight wins. Tasty.
But the absolute pinnacle? North London derby time. Spurs gaffer Thomas Frank, still salty about the hijack, gets asked about it: 'Who's Eze?' Oh, mate. Echoes of old AFTV gaffes, but from the manager's mouth. Eze channels his inner Jordan, shreds their 5-4-1 bus-park and bags a hat-trick – first Gunner since '78 to do it in the derby. 4-1 romp. Post-match, Eze's buzzing: 'Prayed for it, got it. Grateful, man.' Pub legend born.
Then... poof. Hero to zero in the blink of an eye. Four league games after Spurs, and it's tumbleweed. Hooked at 1-1 versus 10-man Chelsea. Sub appearance in a 2-0 win. Blank after blank. In 33 Arsenal outings, five goals, six assists. Decent on paper, but three strikes from that one derby bonanza? Leaves you scratching your head. No injuries for him – unlike half the squad – yet he's in and out. At 27, with that price tag, fans are fidgeting. Arsenal need open-play pop, and Eze's not consistently delivering.
Look, it's not all doom. February's his purple patch historically – Palace knew it. Arteta's squad is stacked, rotation's brutal. One spark, and he's flipping the script. Imagine him igniting a title charge or CL run? That hijack could look genius. For now, though, it's 'Who's Eze?' redux in the away end. Keep an eye, lads – this story's far from over. What's your take? Pint's on me if he bags another derby treble.