Arsenal are closing in on the £68 million signing of Eberechi Eze.
The Gunners have already signed six players this summer, including the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke, spending in the region of £200 million in the process.
That hasn’t stopped them from adding the cherry on top, as Eze is set to undergo his medical ahead of a switch from Crystal Palace.
The 27-year-old could make his debut in red and white this weekend against Leeds United, although he’s more likely to feature against Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday.
Paul Merson has praised Arsenal’s signing of Eze, describing the player as ‘brilliant’ and a ‘game-changer’.
The Gunners have certainly acquired him to add more creativity and unpredictability in attacking areas, with Palace’s talisman capable of producing magical moments in the final third.
This quality isn’t limited to open play, however, with Eze also boasting set-piece mastery in his repertoire of skills.
While the England international has only scored from three direct free-kicks throughout his career, he’s also scored a handful from short lay-offs from these positions, while he consistently tests the goalkeeper from these situations.
The Gunners have arguably not had a free-kick specialist since the days of Robin Van Persie, who was renowned for his ability from dead-ball situations.
Van Persie scored 13 free-kick goals throughout his career, six of which came in his eight-year spell in North London, which ended in 2012.
Declan Rice famously scored two free-kicks in one game against Real Madrid last season.
However, aside from the Englishman’s sensational strikes, Arsenal have hardly scored any goals direct from free-kicks since Mikel Arteta took over.
Bukayo Saka netted one in a Champions League league phase match against Paris Saint-Germain last season, but prior to that, the last direct free-kick goal the Gunners scored came from Martin Odegaard against Burnley in September 2021.
Now, Arsenal have at least one player in their ranks who has a track record of delivering from these situations, and he may well make a difference in this area this season.
