THE NORTH LONDON KING: HOW EBERECHI EZE BECAME A DERBY LEGEND IN FOUR MONTHS
Mikel Arteta insists Eberechi Eze "belongs" at Arsenal as the Gunners continue their historic hunt for a 2026 quadruple.
Mikel Arteta says Eberechi Eze doesn’t need any extra motivation as he settles in at Arsenal after leaving Crystal Palace.
Back in November, Eze made headlines by becoming the first player to score a Premier League hat-trick in a north London derby. He starred last Sunday again, scoring twice as Arsenal tore through Tottenham 4-1.
Still, Eze’s form between those two big games has been up and down. Arteta admits he’s still learning what makes Eze tick, both on the pitch and off it.
“Motivation’s never been an issue,” Arteta said. “Honestly, if you have to motivate a player, you’ve got a problem. Motivation’s just talk; someone can fire you up for a minute, maybe an hour, but that’s it.
“The real motivation for Eze is why he came here in the first place. He really feels like he belongs at this club. Everything else comes down to the moments in your career, especially when you move somewhere new. You’ve got to figure it out and do everything you can to make it work.”
Eze faced some criticism after a mistake in December’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, and since Arsenal beat Wolves in mid-December, he’s only started two league games.
He’s always tended to find his best attacking form later in the season, and Arteta wants to see that happen again, especially with Arsenal still fighting for a historic quadruple.
Arteta hasn’t ruled out moving Eze back to the left wing down the line. “He can do it,” he said. “Now he’s got more experience, more games, and a better sense of what’s needed to make a difference. I hope he really takes off from here until the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, Viktor Gyokeres scored Arsenal’s other two goals against Spurs, bringing his total to 15 in all competitions after a slow start since joining from Sporting Lisbon last summer.
Some have started comparing Gyokeres’ numbers to Didier Drogba’s first season at Chelsea. Drogba finished that year with just one more goal and went on to haunt Arsenal for years.
Asked if those comparisons are fair, Arteta shrugged. “It’s always about who you compare with. I might have a beautiful apartment, but if someone else has a mansion, suddenly my place feels small.
“But I can still be proud because I worked hard for my apartment, paid off the debts, fixed it up, and have a great kitchen. Then I visit his mansion and feel bad. It just depends on how you look at things.
“So sure, Viktor can get better. But what he’s done so far matters.”
DEFENSIVE EVOLUTION: HOW PIERO HINCAPIE’S VERSATILITY PUSHED HIM AHEAD OF RICCARDO CALAFIORI RECENTLY
Permanent stay: Discover why Arsenal are triggering Piero Hincapie's £45m clause and opening talks for Milan's Rafael Leao.
Arsenal looks set to make Piero Hincapie’s move from Bayer Leverkusen permanent this summer. The club plans to trigger their £45 million option and tie down the Ecuadorian defender after he caught Mikel Arteta’s eye in his first six months at the Emirates.
Hincapie joined Arsenal on deadline day last September, with the Gunners beating Spurs to sign the 24-year-old. Since then, he’s racked up 15 Premier League starts and featured twice in the Champions League. Arteta’s been pretty clear he wants Hincapie to stay, and he’s happy with how the defender has settled since arriving late from Leverkusen.
Lately, Hincapie has started Arsenal’s last three league games, including that 4-1 win over Tottenham in the North London derby. Arteta picked him ahead of both Ricardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Hincapie grabbed his first Arsenal goal in the 2-2 draw at Wolves last week, just after notching his first assist against Brentford.
While Arsenal are still chasing a potential quadruple, the club’s already thinking about next season’s squad. Reports say they’ve set their sights on AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and even opened talks for the Portuguese winger. Leao will have two years left on his Milan contract in June, and Milan could let him go if they get close to their €80 million (£70 million) asking price. Leao’s been one of Milan’s top scorers this season with eight goals in Serie A.
So, what does all this mean for Myles Lewis-Skelly? With Arsenal set to keep Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly faces even tougher competition for minutes, especially with Calafiori and Hincapie ahead of him. Unless something changes, a loan move might be the best way for him to get regular football and keep developing. Still, training alongside established players like Hincapie could help him grow and get ready for more chances down the line.
ODEGAARD TO UNITED? ARSENAL CAPTAIN REPORTEDLY OPEN TO SHOCK MANCHESTER UNITED SUMMER TRANSFER
Discover why Martin Odegaard is linked to Manchester United and the "broken promises" behind his Arsenal exit.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is facing calls to leave the club after fresh rumours linked him with a move to Manchester United.
Odegaard has been a key player for Arsenal in recent seasons, but this year, things just haven’t clicked. Injuries have thrown him off course, and even when he’s played, he hasn’t looked like his usual self. Now there’s real competition in the squad too, especially with the arrival of Eberechi Eze, who cost the club over £67 million.
Lately, reports have been swirling that Odegaard isn’t happy at Arsenal. FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich are both said to be interested, and talk of a transfer is only heating up.
Earlier this month, Topskills Sports UK claimed that Odegaard told his agent to start talks with Manchester United. According to them, he feels let down by Arsenal’s board and coaching staff, and sources say there’s been tension between him and Mikel Arteta. The report even said Odegaard is “100% willing to leave the club.” Bayern Munich still wants him badly, but Odegaard’s first choice is to stay in the Premier League. It would take something special to lure him to Germany over United.
Now, pundits Steve Nicol and Frank Leboeuf have weighed in, both saying they think it’s time for Odegaard to move on, especially with Eze coming in and Odegaard’s own form dipping.
“Odegaard might be leaving Arsenal,” Nicol told ESPN. “If you’re Odegaard, the club captain, and just 18 months ago you were the main man, suddenly there are doubts about whether you even start because of Eze. And with the way he’s been playing, someone else could leapfrog him, too. So if you’re Martin Odegaard, do you stick around? I don’t think you do.”
Leboeuf agreed: “I’ve always liked Odegaard’s style; he’s elegant, but he’s not as influential anymore. He helps start the play and move the ball sideways, but Eze brings something different. He’s more direct, more influential, and he’ll help Gyokeres as well. It’s going to be tough for Odegaard, and he’s got a big decision to make at the end of the season.”
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