Such is the toxicity of an online fanbase that very rarely do you get a signing that unifies a bunch of supporters, particularly Arsenal.
Their fans love a vent, they love sharing their frustration but there is also an incredible collective unity. That was seen when Eberechi Eze signed for the Gunners on Saturday.
While a deal was wrapped up by Wednesday evening, this move has been in the pipeline for a couple of weeks now with reports suggeting that they had initially agreed the framework of a move back on August 10th.
After that, Spurs stole in and it looked as though Andrea Berta and Co were set to ignore their summer-long interest.
Well, an injury to Kai Havertz turned the tide. Arsenal need another body and they brought one in swiftly, spending over £60m to bring the Crystal Palace star to the north of London.
If reports are to be believed, they might not be done just yet.
Another late signing for Arsenal on the cards
With the arrival of Eze it is highly likely that Arsenal are now done the in the transfer market when it comes to incomings.
That won’t faze many fans, for this has been a cracking window.
Yet, the one player that’s continued to elude the club despite several months worth of links is Real Madrid winger Rodrygo.
Reports earlier in the window suggested that talks had been held but interest has never been followed up. Well, according to reports in Spain, a bid was actually made for the Brazilian.
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Reportedly, Arsenal have actually submitted an offer worth £67m for the player. However, amid interest from Manchester City, Madrid are not prepared to sanction a sale unless their asking price of around £78m is met.
As a consequence, this is probably one deal too many for Berta this summer.
Why Rodrygo is as exciting as Eze
Wow, just wow. What a deal this is. The moment that Arsenal were able to steal Eze away from their biggest rivals is an event that fans won’t be forgetting in a hurry.
Eze certainly feels like the missing piece of the puzzle. Capable of playing from the left wing or behind the striker as more of a number 10, he’s a maverick, he’s a dribbler, he’s a goalscorer, he’s a creator. He’s got everything in his locker to be a success at Arsenal.
2024/25
43
14
11
2023/24
31
11
6
2022/23
40
10
4
2021/22
19
1
1
2020/21
36
3
6
What fans have perhaps bemoaned the most over the last year is the predictability of the club’s tactics but Eze will certainly help give this attack some unpredictability.
Rodrygo would help do the same and one might still argue that, despite added depth on the left wing now, they don’t have an elite option.
We’re clutching at straws here, but Noni Madueke’s favoured position is on the right and Eze’s preferred role would be more central.
Thus, signing Rodrygo, whether it be now or in the future would be the final piece of the puzzle on the left of Arteta’s forward line.
While he did go 17 games without scoring at one stage last term, the 24-year-old still netted 14 goals and supplied 11 assists. Remarkably, that is the exact same haul as Eze registered for Crystal Palace across all competitions in 2024/25.
In the words of former teammate Luka Modric, he’s a “superstar” talent. He’s also a maverick, just as Eze is, ranking among the top 20% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90 minutes and among the best 13% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.
In the shadow of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr at Madrid, since new boss Xabi Alonso came to the club he’s not received much game time and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before Rodrygo grows frustrated and forces a move away from the Spanish capital.
This is a deal that will likely go into 2026 but there’s no doubt that he’s a fabulous player, someone boasting the same level of unpredictability and excitement in attack as Mr Eze.