
EPL Index
·21 May 2025
Arsenal Urged to Target 15-goal Premier League Midfielder After FA Cup Heroics

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·21 May 2025
Arsenal’s pursuit of silverware and squad perfection continues, and few names have risen as sharply into contention as Eberechi Eze. Following his standout season with Crystal Palace, including a match-winning display in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, calls for the Gunners to make their move are growing louder.
Caught Offside columnist Charles Watts was unequivocal in his admiration for the 25-year-old, stating: “It was absolutely no surprise to me to see Eberechi Eze make the difference on the day (in the FA Cup final). I thought he was superb.”
Watts wasn’t just enamoured with Eze’s goal. His column praised the intelligence, control, and attacking fluidity the England international displayed under Wembley’s arch. “He was so clever with the ball whenever he was in possession,” Watts wrote, urging Arsenal to act decisively.
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Eze’s numbers this season speak volumes: 15 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, output that’s matched by few attacking midfielders in Europe. His vision, ability to drift into space, and fearless running have elevated Palace, and his role in dismantling City on such a grand stage has confirmed what many already suspected—Eze is ready for the next step.
“I think he’s a wonderful player, someone who would be perfect for this Arsenal team,” Watts continued. His point isn’t just stylistic. It’s strategic. Arsenal lack a direct creative threat capable of opening up games against low blocks, and Eze, with his blend of technique and imagination, would offer precisely that.
One of the more delicate angles explored in the piece is the current form of Martin Ødegaard. While club captain and technically gifted, the Norwegian has failed to hit his previous heights in recent months.
“The harsh truth for Arsenal is that star player and club captain Martin Odegaard has looked off the boil for some time now,” the column noted. Watts even posited that “someone like Eze might actually contribute a lot more.”
Ødegaard has long been a creative heartbeat for Mikel Arteta’s side, but there’s an argument that his influence has waned in key moments. Eze, meanwhile, continues to shine in big games. That contrast will not go unnoticed as Arsenal assess how to evolve.
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Crystal Palace, for their part, will find it increasingly difficult to retain their star man. Even the most devoted supporters may have to brace themselves for a summer departure. As Watts noted: “You can see that he’s ready to take that next step in his career now. He’s going to move soon, even the most ardent Palace fan will know that is the case.”
Whether that step leads to the Emirates depends on Arsenal’s intent. But if Eze does become available, “Arsenal should be at the front of the queue.”
If you’re an Arsenal fan, you’d be hard-pressed to find a reason not to get behind this one. Eberechi Eze is the kind of signing that signals ambition, growth and a willingness to evolve creatively.
He’s proven he can thrive under pressure—just ask Manchester City. He’s produced consistently for a mid-table team, meaning there’s every reason to believe he would flourish even further surrounded by world-class talent.
Ødegaard has carried much of the creative burden for too long. Eze doesn’t have to replace him but could complement or rotate with him, providing Arteta with tactical options and squad depth that Arsenal currently lack.
The key here is proactiveness. Arsenal must avoid watching another top-six rival move first. If Palace are open to negotiating—and all signs suggest they may have little choice—then Arsenal should be ready, willing, and decisive. Eze at the Emirates feels like more than just good business. It feels like the next logical step for both club and player.