It was a North London twist worthy of a classic derby – Arsenal, sensing the opportunity presented by Kai Havertz’s knee issue, swooped in late and gazumped rivals Tottenham to secure the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace.

Spurs had been confident they’d agreed personal terms and a fee with both Eze and Palace, but Arsenal reinjected themselves into the race and ultimately agreed a £60 million upfront package plus £7.5 million in add-ons to seal the deal.

This acquisition adds to what has already been a significant summer of spending for the Gunners. Alongside Eze, Arsenal have bolstered their ranks with Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Cristhian Mosquera.

It’s a haul that signals serious ambition, but even among that glittering intake, Eze could well prove to be the most impactful for Arsenal’s hopes of ending their Premier League title drought that stretches back to 2004.

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Eze brings a blend of creativity, Premier League experience and tactical flexibility that is tailor-made for Mikel Arteta’s evolving system. At 27, he arrives with more than five seasons of top-flight experience to his name, including 29 Premier League goals over three seasons for Palace and a starring role in their historic 2025 FA Cup triumph, where he scored the winner in the final.

Primarily deployed as a left-sided attacker at Palace, Eze is expected to slot into that same role for Arsenal to begin with. That alone presents a significant upgrade over existing options like Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Both talented in their own right, they lack Eze’s blend of dribbling, chance creation and experience as a creative hub.

However, what makes Eze especially intriguing is his positional versatility. He is equally capable of operating as a central No.10 – where he can help relieve some of the creative burden currently carried by Martin Odegaard – or even as an advanced No.8, effectively allowing Arteta to shift fluidly between attacking shapes. This malleability enhances tactical unpredictability. Arteta could deploy a 4-3-3 that transforms into a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 diamond mid-game, all without substituting.

Such flexibility becomes crucial over a long season. Arsenal, having endured injuries to key attackers in recent campaigns, clearly saw the value in a multi-positional playmaker who can adapt. Eze’s ability to switch zones – left flank, centre or drifting deep – ensures that creative impetus isn’t sacrificed when personnel fall away.

Odegaard has shouldered the role of chief playmaker for Arsenal in recent seasons, but with opponents targeting him as the fulcrum of the attack, Arsenal have often looked one-dimensional. Eze’s arrival offers much-needed relief. Whether linking with Odegaard in central spaces, shifting wide to deliver killer balls into the box or rotating into deeper pockets to draw interest from defenders, he injects nuance and unpredictability into Arsenal’s attack.

For Arsenal to end a run of three consecutive second-place finishes, the margins will be fine. But Eze could be the razor-edge tool that turns near misses into a title. His Premier League pedigree, proven trophy-winning mentality and rare blend of skill and adaptability make him the kind of signing that could elevate a title-challenger into a champion.

If Arsenal are to fulfil their promise by finally clinching that elusive league crown, Eze’s arrival may just prove the decisive addition to Arteta’s side.