Mikel Arteta Explains How Arsenal Hijacked Tottenham’s Move for Eberechi Eze With a Phone Call
- Eberechi Eze was on the verge of sealing a transfer to Tottenham before having a last-minute phone call with Mikel Arteta
- Arsenal beat North London rivals Spurs with a £67.5m bid after Crystal Palace delayed the transfer
- Eze signed a four-year deal with Arsenal and was unveiled before the Gunners' 5-0 win over Leeds at the Emirates
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has opened up on how a last-minute phone call helped the Gunners hijack Eberechi Eze from under Tottenham’s nose in a dramatic transfer twist.
The Crystal Palace star, who helped the club win their first trophy in 119 years, had been on the verge of joining Spurs before Arsenal swooped in with a stunning £67.5 million deal.
Source: Getty Images
For over ten days, Tottenham had been locked in negotiations with Crystal Palace, working on a package worth £55m plus add-ons to bring Eberechi Eze to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The 27-year-old England international, who had been on Nigeria's radar for years, was preparing to seal the move when an unexpected twist unfolded.
According to the Daily Mail, just as Eze was about to commit to Spurs, he reached out directly to Mikel Arteta.
That call turned the tide in Arsenal’s favour, and within hours, Arsenal matched Crystal Palace’s demands and topped Tottenham’s offer with a £67.5m package.
By Saturday, Eze was officially unveiled as a Gunner in front of an excited crowd at the Emirates Stadium, leaving Spurs red-faced.
Arteta reveals the key moment
Speaking after Arsenal’s deal was confirmed, Arteta shed light on the importance of Eze’s call.
“That shows you how much he wanted to come,” Arteta said.
“It’s very different sometimes because you want to be very open and transparent with the players as they have to make decisions in their careers. But I’m delighted to have him. I can tell how much it means to him and his whole family.”
Arteta’s comments underline the personal connection that can influence major transfers.
While Spurs had already agreed terms with both Crystal Palace and Eze, Arsenal’s intervention and the player’s desire to work with Arteta tipped the balance.
Crystal Palace delay gives Arsenal opening
Crystal Palace inadvertently played a role in the transfer twist. Although Spurs had a deal in place, Palace insisted Eze remain available for their UEFA Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad, Sky Sports reports.
Source: Getty Images
Manager Oliver Glasner even planned a send-off, but Eze reported sick on the morning of the game.
That delay gave Arsenal the perfect window to make their move.
By the weekend, the Gunners had wrapped up the £60m signing, with Eze putting pen to paper on a four-year contract that includes the option for an extra year.
He has been handed the iconic No. 10 shirt at the Emirates, further signalling his importance to Arteta’s plans.
The former Palace star could now make his Arsenal debut in a blockbuster clash away at Liverpool next Sunday, a match that could shape the Premier League title race.
Arsenal turns attention from Eze
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Arsenal’s summer transfer plans have taken an interesting turn as the Gunners now consider Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman as a viable alternative to Eberechi Eze.
While Crystal Palace's Eze remains top of Mikel Arteta’s wishlist, talks over a £60 million move have hit complications, prompting the North London club to widen their search.
Source: Legit.ng
