🏟️🚨Exclusive Arsenal column: Arteta increasing pressure over striker transfer, Eze talks, Partey exit & more

I’m a huge fan of Eberechi Eze and have been pretty vocal this summer about my desire to see Arsenal make a move for him.

There have now been discussions with his representatives to learn about the potential terms of any deal, but that is as far as things have gone so far.

And Arsenal have had discussions with the representatives of lots of wide players so far this summer as Andrea Berta looks to assess all the options that could be available on the market.

So these talks with Eze’s agents do not mean that an offer is forthcoming from Arsenal, but I have to admit I hope one does come this summer as I think he would be perfect for this Arsenal squad.

It’s clear that this squad misses a maverick type attacker, someone who can do something out of nothing that can just open a game up.

In tight games against packed defences, Arsenal struggle. That was what really cost them last season, along with the injuries.

Someone like Eze could provide that spark. He could add that extra bit of creativity that Arsenal have been crying out for in the past year or so.

He scores goals and he makes goals. He can play on the left or he can move inside and operate in the central areas, in place of Odegaard when he is struggling or alongside him.

I think Eze would provide Arteta with so many new options. He would be a fabulous signing.

It’s a gamble, but Arsenal have probably got it right with Thomas Partey

I think Arsenal have made the right call on Thomas Partey.

They will miss him next season, I’m sure of that, but I don’t think they could have been able to justify giving him a pay rise or even giving him terms that matched what he was on previously.

Yes, he had arguably his best season in an Arsenal shirt last season and his availability was excellent for once.

But he is now 32 and one good season of availability does not mean you should just forget about the previous season when injuries were a constant issue.

There is no way you could say with any confidence that those injury problems wouldn’t have returned next season, so I just don’t see how Arsenal could have given him what he was asking for.

Had he agreed to take a wage reduction I’m sure that an agreement would have been reached, but he didn’t and that’s understandable on his part.

He does have interest from elsewhere and it wouldn’t surprise me if he now ended up in Spain, but for Arsenal it’s a good opportunity to move on