Eze links grow as summer foundations get built

Morning.

Over the weekend I wrote a bit about some vague interest in Eberechi Eze, a player I really like by the way, but I said it felt a bit unlikely. Well, yesterday that reporting became less vague, with various sources saying meetings between the player’s representatives took place – although there hasn’t been any official contact with Crystal Palace yet.

It’s certainly an interesting development, because as I said on Saturday, it’s not necessarily that easy to see where exactly he would play in this team. I think he’s got real quality, a touch of the maverick which isn’t always something you’d associate with Mikel Arteta and his own personal preferences, and I would love to see him in red and white (sorry Dan from HLTCO!). From Saturday:

Let’s see what happens with this one, but unless the manager is about to do something we absolutely don’t expect with his tactics/formation next season, it feels like a bit of a long shot.

It’s still early days, and there’s no suggestion a deal is close, but if we’re having meetings it does make you think there’s a bit more substance to the situation than Eze just being a player we like/admire. We’re yet to hear the word ‘concrete’ in relation to this situation, so until that time we’ll have to see how it all plays out, but he’s a player who would give us more variety in the opposition half.

So far, Arteta’s view of the left-8 position has been pretty consistent. As I’ve said before, you can draw a straight line between the physical profiles of Granit Xhaka, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino – players he has either bought to play there, or ended up in that position. Even the arrival of Martin Zubimendi (any day now, it’s July!), suggests very strongly that Rice will continue to play there a lot, so where would Eze fit exactly? Does the manager have a different idea for Rice? Or Eze himself? Time-share with Martin Odegaard, or time out on the left? I honestly don’t know, but if this deal does happen, I’m fascinated for what it means to the way the team is set up.

Meanwhile, Brentford’s Director of Football spoke about Christian Norgaard yesterday, and the mooted move to Arsenal. He said of the potential departure of the club captain:

I think it’s more likely than not. I think it’s very well documented who’s interested. If he ends up leaving and going to a club that has more opportunities to win things than we do towards the end of his career then he’s more than earned it because he’s been an unbelievable player for us.

Fantastic six years, great captain, and a brilliant person. Nothing’s done but it’s a strong possibility.

He’ll come in to replace Jorginho in the squad after Zubimendi’s signing was designed to replace Thomas Partey who is now a free agent after the expiration of his contract yesterday. So, as it stands, the Arsenal summer business looks like this:

Martin Zubimendi – done, awaiting announcement
Kepa Arrizabalaga – done
Christian Norgaard – more or less done
Cristhian Mosquera – looking positive, talks over price with Valencia continue

None of those signings will get people jumping for joy, they’re more foundational than exciting, even if I do think the fact we’ve known about Zubimendi for so long rains on his parade a little bit. This is a player wanted by Liverpool, Man City and Real Madrid in recent times, and he’s chosen Arsenal to make the next step of his career. I get that deep-lying central midfielders aren’t always the most glamorous signings, but we’re getting an excellent player.

After these deals are done, it’s about adding the flourish to the window. If you also add a player like Eze, and then one of the strikers we’ve been linked with, I think you’re looking at a very positive set of incomings. I think, whenever they do pull the trigger on Sesko, Gyokeres, Whoever else, it will probably feel a little underwhelming as it’s been in the post for so long, but it will also come tinged with relief that we’ve finally addressed the big issue of the summer.

After that, I think we might be looking at a departure or two, and then we’re in the stage of the window where anything else that happens becomes a bit more opportunistic. The domino effect of a move happening elsewhere might open up the possibility to make another addition, or indeed to make a sale to make an addition, but once the main pieces are in place sooner rather than later, that’s a pretty comfortable position to be in. Let’s see what the next few days bring, and then see where we are.

Right, I’ll leave it there for this morning. There’s a brand new Arsecast Extra below if you haven’t had a chance to listen yet, and we’ll have any breaking stories on Arseblog News. Have a good one.