Eberechi Eze, the 23-year-old Crystal Palace winger, is a tremendous talent. This summer, he has quickly become a core name in transfer speculation, notably for a lucrative transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. The London-born player impressed with his breakout performance last season at Crystal Palace. He scored eight goals from the left flank, showing that he is a legitimate attacking force. With a £60 million release clause floated within his contract, clubs are lining up in droves to determine how they can afford his services.
Eze’s performance last season was marked by both strengths and areas for growth. He was only able to succeed on just over a third of his dribbles in the Premier League. Despite all this he was a giant even amongst his peers. Only four attacking players were better than Eze when it came to success on take-ons. His success rate for these attempts was over 50%. This eye-popping statistic reflects his uncommon talent in highly combative environments. It’s a mindset that’s an absolutely essential trait for any arrow looking to make an impact at the highest levels of competition.
The young winger’s tenacity shows through not just in his offensive play, but in his willingness to be a pest defensively too. Eze was especially adept at regaining possession in the middle and defensive thirds. He ranked in the top 5 attacking players in the entire league for this remarkable skill. That kind of determination is indicative of his game as a whole and makes him a prime asset for any team looking to win a title.
Even with those gaudy numbers, doubts remain about where Eze’s career is headed. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta might have wished that Eze’s career path had gone a different way. Last season was Eze’s first full campaign, and he had a fairly poor start to that season, with just four goal involvements before the New Year. That sort of output would be unacceptable for a club with aspirations of competing for the Premier League title.
As Eze has settled and developed into a more regular, fruitful player, he’s made waves within the international scene. He was one of the few lights in the darkness during England’s most recent woeful performance en route to a humiliating loss to Senegal. Most observers think that although he might not ascend to the lofty peaks of Bukayo Saka, Eze’s preternatural path still proves bright and ambitious.
“Even in academies while I was training, I would still go back to the cages and play with friends,” – Eberechi Eze
Eze credits a lot of what he’s working on to the development of his craft when he first played soccer in these informal environments. He explained how these experiences shaped his playing style:
“It’s probably where I learned most of how I play. Ball control, being able to run past players, handling the ball in tight spaces, being able to get knocked by bigger players and getting up. It’s literally doing what you can to be as effective as you can be in harsh circumstances. For sure, that’s built me and helped me become the player I am today.” – Eberechi Eze
Such commitment and mentality already reserved him to be an exciting talent, for teams looking to push their squads further, Eze represents an immensely appealing target. Tottenham’s interest highlights how cutthroat the Premier League can be. Further, it speaks to a burgeoning trend of valuing players like Eze in the modern era.
With the transfer window now nearing the end, Arsenal will be asked more and more whether they will join the fight for Eze’s signature. Given their aspirations for the upcoming season and beyond, securing a player with Eze’s potential could be a pivotal move. His room to grow and develop further is what will make him such a desirable target for teams trying to add to their attacking depth.
Leave a Reply