Pleasure at Arsenal soccer membership is at an all-time excessive through the Mikel Arteta reign, with their actions on and off the pitch fueling the expectations of the fanbase.
Eberechi Eze was confirmed because the Gunners’ newest addition on Saturday afternoon, becoming a member of the aspect in a £67.5m deal from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.
His tally of 16 mixed objectives and assists in England’s top-flight provides a brand new dimension to the aspect’s assault, subsequently having the ability to function in a quantity ten position, or off the left-hand aspect of the frontline.
The 27-year-old, who’s a boyhood Arsenal fan, was offered to the followers earlier than the 5-0 conquer Leeds on the Emirates – with their excellent displaying catapulting the aspect to the highest of the desk.
Nonetheless, with lower than every week remaining in the summertime window, the supervisor continues to be focusing on added reinforcements to the squad, resulting in quite a few names being talked about with a transfer in latest days.
Arsenal’s hunt to land added reinforcements after Eze
Regardless of the transfer to land Eze during the last week, one other attacker has appeared on their radar, with Rodrygo as soon as once more being touted with a transfer to affix Arsenal this summer time.
It was reported not too long ago that the Gunners’ hierarchy have been set for a gathering with the Brazilian’s representatives, with Actual Madrid open to permitting the 24-year-old to depart on a everlasting or short-term foundation.
Nonetheless, the winger isn’t the one participant at present on their radar, with Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie one other participant they’re making a transfer for forward of Monday’s switch deadline.
In accordance with one insider, the Gunners are huge admirers of the Ecuadorian, with Arteta already holding talks with the participant over a swap to North London this summer time.
It’s additionally been reported that any transfer might hinge on Jakub Kiwior’s pending transfer to affix Porto, with a £52m switch charge being mooted for the star Leverkusen at current.
Why Arsenal’s £52m goal can be a greater signing than Eze
A transfer for Eze has injected a newfound sense of optimism throughout the Arsenal fanbase, which is comprehensible given his big-money switch charge – making him the third most-expensive participant of their historical past.
Such a deal has been sweetened, particularly after the Gunners clinched his signature regardless of enormous curiosity from North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur earlier than his transfer to the Emirates.
Nonetheless, he can have an enormous quantity of expectations to dwell as much as given the charge, however there’s no denying that the England worldwide possesses loads of top-level high quality.
A switch for Hincapie might arguably be a greater addition this summer time, providing wanted cowl within the centre-back and left-back departments – with the latter being an issue place for Arteta.
The likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Riccardo Calafiori have all tried to fill the void, however have massively struggled with accidents over the previous couple of campaigns.
Calafiori has began each of the Gunners’ two Premier League video games thus far, even scoring the winner in opposition to Manchester United – typically popping up at key moments.
A deal for Hincapie would provide an instantaneous and long-term answer to Arteta’s largest downside within the defensive division, with the 23-year-old already racking up over 160 appearances for Leverkusen since his transfer to the German aspect again in 2021.
His underlying stats from the Bundesliga final marketing campaign spotlight the expertise he possesses out and in of possession – doubtlessly being a superb pickup regardless of the £52m price ticket.
He ranked within the ninety fifth percentile for passes accomplished final season (88%), while falling into the eighty fifth percentile for progressive passes per 90 (5.1) – demonstrating the expertise he possesses find teammates in attacking areas.
Piero Hincapie’s stats for Leverkusen within the Bundesliga (2024/25) | |
|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | Tally |
Video games performed | 32 |
Objectives & assists | 4 |
Move accuracy | 88% |
Progressive passes | 5.1 |
Passes into the ultimate third | 5.4 |
Carries into the ultimate third | 1.6 |
Progressive carries | 1.8 |
Tackles received | 1.4 |
Aerials received | 2.2 |
Aerial success price | 60% |
Stats by way of FBref | |
Such numbers might show to be good for Eze, doubtlessly handing the Englishman the instruments to be a hit throughout his debut yr within the Gunners’ first staff.
He additionally ranked within the ninety fifth percentile for carries into the ultimate third per 90 (1.6) – in a position to make overlapping runs if wanted, providing an added inventive menace in key areas to Arteta’s aspect.
Nonetheless, Hincapie was simply as spectacular out of possession, successful 1.4 tackles per 90 and reaching a 60% aerial success price – tallies which might additional bolster the membership’s defence, which has been the most effective within the Premier League in every of the final two seasons.
While £52m could look like a hefty sum for the teenager, it’s one that may lastly put an finish to the membership’s hunt for a constant starter on the left-hand aspect of the backline.
If he can switch his numbers from the Bundesliga to the Premier League, Hincapie can be an exceptional pickup and one that would show to be extra necessary than Eze within the Gunners’ hunt for Premier League glory.
