Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has been sent a warning over his immediate future as he weighs up his options ahead of the new season. The 27-year-old has emerged as a target for both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, but Gunners icon Theo Walcott has advised the forward to remain at Selhurst Park.
Eze helped guide the Eagles to their first-ever major trophy last season by scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final. The England international had another reason to celebrate at Wembley last weekend as Palace overcame Liverpool to win the Community Shield.
Soccerhuz.com understands that Arsenal are long-term admirers of Eze, though the club would have to offload players to afford his £68million release clause, which is set to expire at the start of the new season. Spurs are an alternative option for Eze following James Maddison’s injury and Son Heung-min’s exit. However, Walcott believes next summer’s World Cup could scupper the Gunners’ transfer hopes.
“I think the big thing we’ve got to look a is the World Cup year,” Walcott explained on the It’s Called Soccer podcast. “You hit the nail on the head there with [Marc] Guehi. As a player, if it’s a World Cup year, I’m thinking, ‘I’m going to play consistently for Palace this year.’
“So if I’m Eze, for instance, my thought process is, Arsenal is a different kind of pressure. There is the pressure of, obviously, challenging for the title. There’s a lot of words being said that Mikel [Arteta] needs to win something this year, so being a player that will help the squad–of course, he will, he’s a gifted player–but will he help himself?
“The good thing about Eze’s situation is that he can play every week. He has that maverick and accepts making and taking those risks.
“I think he’s a player that can take those risks at Palace,” Walcott continued. “I don’t think he’ll get that at Arsenal. But then if he has a really good season with Palace, he will go to the World Cup, I’m pretty sure of that. Then what teams will look at him then after that?
“I think for me, if I was Eze, I’d probably stay put just because of the World Cup year. If it wasn’t a World Cup year, I’d move on.”
On the prospect of Eze leaving Palace, Walcott added: “The grass isn’t always greener and I love the way Eze plays at Palace at this moment in time. It would look very different at Arsenal, but he would improve Arsenal, 100 per cent. I just feel the World Cup year is a big factor for a lot of players this year.”
Eze was handed his England debut in 2023 and was part of the Three Lions squad that reached the Euro final last summer. His 25 goal contributions across all competitions last term saw him named in Thomas Tuchel’s first two England squads.
Walcott’s former Arsenal team-mate Mikael Silvestre has echoed his concerns about how joining Mikel Arteta’s team could negatively affect Eze. The Gunners already have Martin Odegaard and Ethan Nwaneri competing for his favoured attacking midfield position and also signed winger Noni Madueke earlier this summer.
“Eberechi Eze to Arsenal? I don’t think it’d be good for him, to be honest, because there is a lot of competition and because he has so much joy and freedom at Crystal Palace,” Silvestre told Hajper.
“Going to Arsenal would, I think, be difficult because of the competition for places. But I like him a lot. Since his early days, he has been terrific.
“It’s a shame he’s had quite a lot of muscle injuries and he’s missed some parts of the season. But whenever he’s fit and ready, he is a top player.”
